Study Desk

As the men of long ago said in their wisdom, ‘Out of the sinful comes sin,' but my hand will not be against you.

David gave Saul his promise, and Saul went home. But David and his men went up to the safe place.

The man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. The woman was of good understanding and beautiful. But the man was bad and sinful in his ways. He was a Calebite.

But Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are leaving their owners.

But one of the young men told Nabal's wife Abigail, "See, David sent men from the desert to greet our owner, and he spoke against them.

But David's men were very good to us. They did not do anything wrong to us. And we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them.

She said to her young men, "Go on before me. See, I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

I beg you, do not let my lord think about this sinful man, Nabal. For he is like his name. Nabal is his name and he is foolish. But I your woman servant did not see my lord's young men whom you sent.

If men rise up to come after you and try to kill you, then the life of my lord will be taken care of by the Lord your God. But He will throw away the lives of those who hate you, as a rock is thrown from a sling.

But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things. And his heart died within him so that he became like a stone.

But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him. For who can put his hand out against the Lord's chosen one and not be guilty?"

May the Lord keep me from putting out my hand against the Lord's chosen one. But take the spear that is at his head and the bottle of water, and let us go."

So David took the spear and the bottle of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away. But no one saw it, or knew it, and no one woke, for they were all sleeping. A deep sleep from the Lord had come upon them.

Now I beg you, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has made you come against me, let Him receive a gift. But if men have done this, may bad come to them before the Lord. For they have driven me out this day, that I should have no share of what the Lord has given. They say, ‘Go, worship other gods.'

The Lord will pay each man for being right and good and faithful. For the Lord gave you into my hand today. But I would not put out my hand against the Lord's chosen one.

Saul asked the Lord what he should do. But the Lord did not answer him, by dreams or by Urim or by those who speak for God.

But the woman said to him, "See, you know what Saul has done. He has put out of the land those who speak with spirits by using their secret ways. Why do you lay a trap for my life to cause my death?"

But Saul promised her by the Lord, saying, "As the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this."

But he said, "I will not eat." But his servants together with the woman begged him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

But the Philistine captains were angry with him. They said to him, "Make the man return. Have him go again to his place which you have given him. Do not let him go down to battle with us. He might fight against us in the battle. For how could this man make his lord receive him again? Would it not be with the heads of these men?