A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings.
I’ve studied 1 Samuel a few times, and to be honest I didn’t really look forward to reading it again as I didn’t think there would be much to surprise me. And I wasn’t too far wrong. The only bit which really stuck out for me isn’t the main bit I’m going to look at, because I didn’t really want to write about the main characters. That bit was 1 samuel 14:24-45 in which Saul has put a curse on anyone who eats before sunset while they battle the Philistines. Jonathan, Saul’s son, has a bit of honey. When God appears to desert the Isrealites they cast lots to see who has sinned with the guity party to be killed. Saul even says “As surely as the LORD who rescues Israel lives, even if it lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” Jonathan is found to be guilty but is spared by Saul. I found this interesting because of the contrast with Jephthah.
I chose Abigail for today’e entry, just because I’m a romantic really. The description of her reminds me of my wife (intelligent and beautiful). Hopefully the description of Nabal doesn’t remind her of me! Elkanah and Hannah came in close runners up. I wonder whyDavid chose to marry Abigail (to add to his two other wives, so far…). I wonder if he felt bad that her husband had died as God avenged the wrongdoing Nabal had done to David. Or was it because Abigail had shown such wisdom and David thought he could use a smart wife. Or was it the quality food she brought them? (after all the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, or should that be his ribcage?) Or perhaps it was just because she was “fit”. Whilst I want to imagine that they fell deeply in love immediately, I really don’t think they would have done. I guess marrying David was a pretty good option for a widow. Abigail probably saw it as the sensible thing to do. It’s not the most romantic of situations is it? And being wife of the future king who’s on the run from the current king isn’t all easy of course. So let me summarise by saying I’m happy to married to a good looking, intelligent woman, who knows how to make flapjack.
The Photo
My lovely, intelligent and beautiful wife.
44mm @ f29 1/250s + studio lights, softboxes and SB800. ISO 800 (oops left that setting from the party I was shooting this evening). Too lazy to get out the backdrop I have so made do with the curtains.