Commentary on "Abigail: No Victim of Circumstances"

LESLIE MARTIN

 

Day 7: Friday, October 29, 2010 - Further Study

 

After Nabal died, David sent a marriage proposal to Abigail via his servants. When they arrived at Abigail’s home they said,

“’David has sent us to you, to take you as his wife.’ And she arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, ‘Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.’ Then Abigail quickly arose and rode on a donkey, with her five maidens who attended her; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife.” 1 Samuel 25:40-42

What a beautiful ending to this story: evil Nabal, the cruel and malicious husband dies, and his lovely and intelligent widow marries Israel’s next king!

Now, some people have a hard time with the fact that Abigail was David’s third wife. His first wife, Michael, had been taken by her father King Saul and given to another man, and David had already taken a new wife, Ahinoam of Jezreel. We’re not going to dissect the problem of plural wives but note something that may have bearing on the union of Abigail and David. When a woman’s husband died without fathering a child, the widow had the privilege by law to ask the nearest relative to marry her and father a child that would inherit her dead husband’s estate. The Goel, or “kinsman redeemer”, had an important responsibility and the esteem of the community by fulfilling this obligation. Abigail had already asked David to be her Goel, “When the Lord shall deal well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.” 1 Samuel 25:31

After Nabal died, David agreed to be Abigail’s Goel and sent a marriage proposal. For further insight into this law of the “Leverite Marriage” study the short book of Ruth. Boaz was the Kinsman Redeemer for Ruth, and David was their great-grandson! David and Abigail had a son and named him Chiliab Daniel. Chiliab means “the perfection of the father,” and Daniel means “God is my judge.” A truly fitting name and perfect ending to this story.

 

 

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