Abigail
Encyclopedia
Abigail was the wife of Nabal
; she became a wife of David after Nabal's death (1 Samuel
).
In the passage, Nabal
demonstrates ingratitude towards David
, and Abigail attempts to placate David in order to stop him taking revenge. She gives him food, and speaks to him, urging him not to "have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed" (verse 31, NIV) and reminding him that God will make him a "lasting dynasty
" (verse 28). Jon Levenson calls this an "undeniable adumbration" of Nathan
's prophecy in 2 Samuel 7. Alice Bach notes that Abigail pronounces a "crucial prophecy," and the Talmud
regards her as one of the Tanakh
's seven female prophets. Levenson, however, suggests that she "senses the drift of history" from intelligence rather than from special revelation.
In verse 38, it says that "YHWH struck Nabal and he died," and David subsequently married Abigail.
The text explicitly describes Abigail as "intelligent and beautiful" (1 Samuel 25:3, NIV). Indeed, the Talmud
mentions her as being one of the "four women of surpassing beauty in the world." Abraham Kuyper
argues, moreover, that Abigail's conduct indicates "a most appealing character and unwavering faith." Yet Alice Bach regards her as subversive, while Sandra Williams suggests that Abigail is deceptive and disloyal to her husband and even that she was "sexually turned on by an outlaw and a criminal."
Abigail was the mother of one of David's sons
, who is named in the Book of Chronicles as Daniel, in the Masoretic Text
of the Books of Samuel as Chileab, and in the Septuagint text of 2 Samuel 3:3 as Δαλουια, Dalouia.
Levenson
and Halpern
suggest that Abigail may, in fact, be the same person as Abigail, mother of Amasa
.
in Beaumont and Fletcher
's The Scornful Lady
, published in 1616. Jonathan Swift
and Henry Fielding
use Abigail in this generic sense, as does Charlotte Brontë
. Anthony Trollope
makes two references to the abigail (all lower case) in The Eustace Diamonds
, at the beginning of Chapter 42. William Rose Benet
notes the notoriety of Abigail Hill, better known as "Mrs Masham", a lady-in-waiting
to Queen Anne
.
Nabal
According to the 1st Book of Samuel Chapter 25, Nabal , was a rich Calebite who was also described as being harsh and surly. David and his band of men who had been outlawed by King Saul were living off the Wilderness of Paran and providing voluntary protection to the shepherds in the area.The...
; she became a wife of David after Nabal's death (1 Samuel
Books of Samuel
The Books of Samuel in the Jewish bible are part of the Former Prophets, , a theological history of the Israelites affirming and explaining the Torah under the guidance of the prophets.Samuel begins by telling how the prophet Samuel is chosen by...
).
In the passage, Nabal
Nabal
According to the 1st Book of Samuel Chapter 25, Nabal , was a rich Calebite who was also described as being harsh and surly. David and his band of men who had been outlawed by King Saul were living off the Wilderness of Paran and providing voluntary protection to the shepherds in the area.The...
demonstrates ingratitude towards David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
, and Abigail attempts to placate David in order to stop him taking revenge. She gives him food, and speaks to him, urging him not to "have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed" (verse 31, NIV) and reminding him that God will make him a "lasting dynasty
Davidic line
The Davidic line refers to the tracing of lineage to the King David referred to in the Hebrew Bible, as well as the New Testament...
" (verse 28). Jon Levenson calls this an "undeniable adumbration" of Nathan
Nathan (Prophet)
Nathan the Prophet was a court prophet who lived in the time of King David and Queen Bathsheba. He came to David to reprimand him over his committing adultery with Bathsheba while she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite whose death the King had also arranged to hide his previous transgression.His...
's prophecy in 2 Samuel 7. Alice Bach notes that Abigail pronounces a "crucial prophecy," and the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
regards her as one of the Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
's seven female prophets. Levenson, however, suggests that she "senses the drift of history" from intelligence rather than from special revelation.
In verse 38, it says that "YHWH struck Nabal and he died," and David subsequently married Abigail.
The text explicitly describes Abigail as "intelligent and beautiful" (1 Samuel 25:3, NIV). Indeed, the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
mentions her as being one of the "four women of surpassing beauty in the world." Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuijper generally known as Abraham Kuyper, was a Dutch politician, journalist, statesman and theologian...
argues, moreover, that Abigail's conduct indicates "a most appealing character and unwavering faith." Yet Alice Bach regards her as subversive, while Sandra Williams suggests that Abigail is deceptive and disloyal to her husband and even that she was "sexually turned on by an outlaw and a criminal."
Abigail was the mother of one of David's sons
Daniel (son of David)
According to the Bible, Daniel, also known as Chiliab, was the second son of David, King of Israel, with Abigail, widow of Nabal the Carmelite, David's third wife. Unlike the other of David's three elder sons, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah who were important characters in 2 Samuel, Daniel is only...
, who is named in the Book of Chronicles as Daniel, in the Masoretic Text
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
of the Books of Samuel as Chileab, and in the Septuagint text of 2 Samuel 3:3 as Δαλουια, Dalouia.
Levenson
Jon D. Levenson
Jon D. Levenson is the Albert A. List Professor of Jewish Studies at the Harvard Divinity School.-Education:*Ph.D. Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University, 1975,*M.A...
and Halpern
Halpern
Halpern is a variation of the Jewish surname Heilprin and may refer to:* Baruch Halpern, Jewish studies* Charles Halpern, lawyer* Charna Halpern, co–founder of ImprovOlympic* Cheryl Halpern, chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting...
suggest that Abigail may, in fact, be the same person as Abigail, mother of Amasa
Abigail (mother of Amasa)
Abigail is a character in the Hebrew Bible She was the mother of Amasa, the commander-in-chief of Absalom's army .-Family: refers to Abigail as a Zeruiah's sister, and therefore and aunt to Joab. In , Abigail and Zeruiah are referred to as sisters to David...
.
Generic use
Abigail's self-styling as a handmaid led to Abigail being the traditional term for a waiting-woman, for example as the waiting gentlewomanGentlewoman
A gentlewoman in the original and strict sense is a woman of good family, analogous to the Latin generosus and generosa...
in Beaumont and Fletcher
Beaumont and Fletcher
Beaumont and Fletcher were the English dramatists Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, who collaborated in their writing during the reign of James I ....
's The Scornful Lady
The Scornful Lady
The Scornful Lady is a Jacobean era stage play, a comedy written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, and first published in 1616, the year of Beaumont's death...
, published in 1616. Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
and Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
use Abigail in this generic sense, as does Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood, whose novels are English literature standards...
. Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire...
makes two references to the abigail (all lower case) in The Eustace Diamonds
The Eustace Diamonds
The Eustace Diamonds is a novel by Anthony Trollope, first published in 1871 as a serial in the Fortnightly Review. It is the third of the "Palliser" series of novels.-Plot summary:...
, at the beginning of Chapter 42. William Rose Benet
William Rose Benét
William Rose Benét was an American poet, writer, and editor.He was the older brother of Stephen Vincent Benét....
notes the notoriety of Abigail Hill, better known as "Mrs Masham", a lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
to Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
.