1 Samuel 25:40 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife."

NIV: His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, "David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife."

NASB: When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, 'David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.'

CSB: When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David sent us to bring you to him as a wife."

NLT: When the messengers arrived at Carmel, they told Abigail, 'David has sent us to take you back to marry him.'

KJV: And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

NKJV: When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.”

First Samuel 25:39–42 summarizes how Abigail marries David. David had been marching to take revenge on Nabal, Abigail's foolish husband. Abigail stopped David, reminding him he should not have the blood of the innocent servants on his hands when he becomes king. Days later, God struck Nabal dead (1 Samuel 25:2–38). David praises God for avenging him and preventing him from making a bloody mistake. David sends servants to bring Abigail to be his wife.

David learns to give grace to people other than King Saul. Samuel dies, and Saul temporarily leaves David alone. David and his men protect the shepherds of the foolish Nabal. When Nabal refuses to reward David, David vows revenge on him and all his male servants. Nabal's wife, Abigail, rushes to David with food and a warning that David shouldn't carry the shame of killing Nabal and the servants when he becomes king. David listens, Nabal dies, and David marries Abigail. Soon the truce will end, and David will meet Saul one last time (1 Samuel 26).

David spared Saul's life, and the grateful king gives David some peace (1 Samuel 24). God has protected David numerous times from having to fight Saul. When a wealthy fool insults David, only the fool's wife, Abigail, keeps David from destroying the entire estate. Once again, God has kept David from needless bloodshed. Saul will later break the truce, but David still refuses to kill his enemy (1 Samuel 26). When David is ready to battle Saul, God prevents it (1 Samuel 29).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 10/30/2025 1:06:12 AM