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Speaker 1: Hi, I'm doct the Tony Evnger host for Heroes in

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Speaker 1: the Bible, and if you've been enjoying this series, please

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Speaker 1: write a review and let me know how this podcast

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Speaker 1: has impacted your life. Welcome to the Epic Avenger of David,

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Speaker 1: a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,

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Speaker 1: and murder. While most people know of David the myth,

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Speaker 1: few know about David the man. In this episode, David

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Speaker 1: is the one who needs saving. Yes, our valiant hero

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Speaker 1: is going to need rescuing, but not from Philistine's or

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Speaker 1: King Saul. David needs somebody to save him from his

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Speaker 1: own poor decision making. This episode introduces a new character, Abigail.

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Speaker 1: She's not a warrior, scholar, or princess, but she is

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Speaker 1: the exact person David needs right now. This is a

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Speaker 1: short episode about three things the emotional told Xil has

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Speaker 1: taken on David and his men, the wisdom of a

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Speaker 1: wife making up for the folly of a husband, and

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Speaker 1: a new budding romance that comes at the perfect time.

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Speaker 1: David has been in the wilderness for a while. His

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Speaker 1: men are skilled, but are weary, the fatigue of battle

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Speaker 1: and lethargy of months on the run without the comforts

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Speaker 1: of a home have put them in a perfect position

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Speaker 1: to make a bad decision. God send someone to save

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Speaker 1: them just in time. We can't expect David to make

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Speaker 1: the right decision every time without guidance and providence. Before

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Speaker 1: we meet Abigail, we go to a funeral. The prelude

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Speaker 1: features a very recent event for David where he mourns

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Speaker 1: the death of a beloved friend and greets the betrayal

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Speaker 1: of his first love. Without further ado, here is Episode

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Speaker 1: thirteen Abigail.

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Speaker 2: Prelude to Chapter thirteen. Thousands of people flocked to the

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Speaker 2: burial site of Samuel, wailing into the heavens, the great

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Speaker 2: leader and last judge of Israel, and breathed his final breath,

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Speaker 2: and the entire nation mourned his death. The skies were gray,

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Speaker 2: as if the heavens themselves were ready to weep. Saul

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Speaker 2: stood in front of the throng of people facing Celia's

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Speaker 2: grave site. His hands trembled, and he let out a

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Speaker 2: cry of lament in unison with the people behind him.

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Speaker 2: All were crushed and bereaved. Behind the congregation, cloaked and

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Speaker 2: hooded in the shadows was David He watched from a

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Speaker 2: distance as the nations said good bye to their prophet

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Speaker 2: and father. David held his head low, weeping silently for

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Speaker 2: the loss of the man who had been first to

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Speaker 2: recognize his calling. David looked up and saw his wife

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Speaker 2: may Call, sitting beside her father and brother. To her

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Speaker 2: left was another man, Paulteel, son of Leyish, who was

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Speaker 2: from Glim. He linked arms with may Call and consoled her.

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Speaker 2: David had heard the rumors that Saul had given a

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Speaker 2: call to him in marriage, but now he knew it

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Speaker 2: to be true. His heart was broken for the loss

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Speaker 2: of Samuel and for the loss of his wife. David

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Speaker 2: was no longer the outlawed son in law of the king.

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Speaker 2: He was simply an outlaw. He let the reality of

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Speaker 2: his standing sink in. He breathed in deeply and prayed

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Speaker 2: to the Lord silently. Then, before anyone had the chance

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Speaker 2: to recognize him, David fled back to Paran, where he

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Speaker 2: and his men had built a new home for themselves

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Speaker 2: in the countryside. Chapter thirteen, Abigail. Cutting through the narrow

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Speaker 2: road from Piran to Carmel, was a group of young

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Speaker 2: men herding their sheep back to their master's property. The

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Speaker 2: road cut through some trees on the outskirts of the wilderness,

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Speaker 2: providing shade for the young men and their sheep. There

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Speaker 2: was a warm spring afternoon. The birds chirped and flew

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Speaker 2: from branch to branch, singing sweet melodies to the travelers

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Speaker 2: down below. However, their songs were not a comfort to

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Speaker 2: the young men. They knew that the bending road beside

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Speaker 2: the forest was filled with bandits and raiders from the

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Speaker 2: western tribes Felista. The young shepherds held their staffs tightly

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Speaker 2: and turned their heads at the sound of every broken

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Speaker 2: twig maston.

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Speaker 3: The ball wasn't right to send us out here without guards.

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Speaker 2: One of them said, with a trembling voice.

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Speaker 3: Perhaps he wants us to die.

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Speaker 2: Another said. All ten of the shepherds were young and

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Speaker 2: inexperienced in combat. They knew if bandits came, they would

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Speaker 2: be utterly defenseless. The tree covering became thick, and the

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Speaker 2: sun was nearly blocked entirely. As darkness shrouded the young

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Speaker 2: men and their sheep, a rustling could be heard from

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Speaker 2: the darkness. Before the young men could brace themselves, a

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Speaker 2: group of bandits emerged from the shadows to attack. The

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Speaker 2: sheep scattered in fear. As the young shepherds desperately tried

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Speaker 2: to defend themselves. The bandits attacked with clubs, swords, and hammers.

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Speaker 2: They began taking the sheep and attacked the boys for

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Speaker 2: the money in their bags. The men attacked with a

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Speaker 2: flurry of blows and jabs. They were tackled to the

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Speaker 2: ground and bound to the rope.

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Speaker 3: The boys that round up their sheep, or do we

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Speaker 3: hold them for ransom?

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Speaker 2: One of the mass the others they.

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Speaker 3: Were sent into the forest with no protection. Clearly they

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Speaker 3: are worth nothing to their master. Let us kill them

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Speaker 3: and take whatever's left in the flock.

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Speaker 2: The rest of them agreed and laughed as they advanced

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Speaker 2: towards the boys to kill them. They brought their swords

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Speaker 2: up to their necks, posturing to swipe it across their throats.

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Speaker 2: Yet before they could move another inch, a stone flew

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Speaker 2: through the air and hit one of them directly in

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Speaker 2: the forehead. A crack of the skull proceeded a large

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Speaker 2: thud of the bandit hitting the floor. The rest of

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Speaker 2: them looked over and gasped as David and his men

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Speaker 2: came storming forward. The men ran for their lives, but

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Speaker 2: David would not let them leave without tasting justice. Asahal,

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Speaker 2: one of David's finest warriors, ran ahead of the others,

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Speaker 2: bridging the gap between him and the fleeing bandits. He

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Speaker 2: caught them, cutting them down at the angles. The others

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Speaker 2: caught up and took back what had been stolen from

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Speaker 2: the shepherds. Bruised and beaten, the bandits retreated back into

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Speaker 2: the shadows. David helped the young men back up to

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Speaker 2: their feet. Together they went back to their camp, and

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Speaker 2: the shepherds were given a warm meal and hospitality. David

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Speaker 2: crouched by the fire and smiled.

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Speaker 3: My men have retrieved the rest of your sheep. All

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Speaker 3: will be returned to your master. The shepherds were grateful.

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Speaker 3: Where do you come from, he asked. We are servants

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Speaker 3: of Nabal. His land is at Carmel. He is an

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Speaker 3: incredibly wealthy man, but he is strict. It brings us

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Speaker 3: great relief that you have saved us. If those bandits

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Speaker 3: did not kill us, sureley, Nabal.

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Speaker 2: Would have David nodded and acknowledged their gratitude.

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Speaker 3: We have been here for a few months now. There

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Speaker 3: are many evil men who sought the vulnerable travelers. We

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Speaker 3: have been keeping a close eye on the roads, ensuring

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Speaker 3: no harm comes to them.

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Speaker 2: David stared at the fire and sighed.

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Speaker 3: However, it has been a weary task keeping ourselves and

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Speaker 3: others safe. It would be nice to share a warm

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Speaker 3: meal during this festive time. It would be a grand

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Speaker 3: gesture for your master to show us some hospitality. My

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Speaker 3: men are in need of respite from the long days

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Speaker 3: and cold nights. We could inquire of a master on

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Speaker 3: your behalf. The shepherd said, it's the least we could

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Speaker 3: do after you've saved us. May the Lord bless you

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Speaker 3: for your kindness, David said, Go up to Nebal and

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Speaker 3: greet him in my name. Say to him, long life

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Speaker 3: to you, Nebal, good health to you and your household.

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Speaker 3: I humbly request your kindness towards my men, since we

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Speaker 3: are here at a festive time. Please be generous to

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Speaker 3: us for how we have treated your men, and grant

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Speaker 3: us any sort of hospitality.

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Speaker 2: The shepherds looked at one another, not sure if Nebal

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Speaker 2: would be the sort to accept David's offer. However, they

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Speaker 2: had a debt to pay, so they ventured off with

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Speaker 2: their sheep to their master. A few of David's servants

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Speaker 2: went with them so they might return the message. David

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Speaker 2: watched them leave, hopeful that he and his men could

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Speaker 2: get one act of kindness, just one. The shepherds returned

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Speaker 2: to Naball's property, nestled between the rolling hills and forests

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Speaker 2: of Carmel. The large green pastures were filled with goats

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Speaker 2: and other livestock. Gardens circled the perimeter of his home,

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Speaker 2: bloming with lush and vibrant colors. The young men entered

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Speaker 2: the great hols of Nabal's home. Large ceedar beams held

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Speaker 2: up the high ceilings, and servants laced the halls, busy

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Speaker 2: preparing yet another large feast for Nabal and his friends.

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Speaker 2: Nabal was at a large seat in the center of

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Speaker 2: the room, like a kingwood on his throne. He was

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Speaker 2: a large and foul looking man. His large and haggard

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Speaker 2: beard hid the rotting teeth in his mouth. He sat

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Speaker 2: on his throne as he often did, half drunk and

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Speaker 2: berating his servants. Beside him was his wife, Abigail. She

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Speaker 2: was a young woman given to him in marriage by

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Speaker 2: her father. Unlike her surly and moronic husband, Abigail was

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Speaker 2: a kind and wise young woman. She held herself with

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Speaker 2: honor and dignity, treating the servants of the household with

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Speaker 2: respect and compassion. However, even her calm and elegant demeanor

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Speaker 2: could not offset the flagrant nature of her husband. He

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Speaker 2: raged against his entire household and abused his authority. The

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Speaker 2: shepherds approached with caution, with David's servants close behind. Na

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Speaker 2: Bal glared at them and pointed to the strangers entering

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Speaker 2: his halls.

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Speaker 4: Not only do you come late with the sheep, but

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Speaker 4: you bring strangers into my home.

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Speaker 3: Explain yourselves, Lord, We were attacked on the road by bandits.

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Speaker 3: They took our sheep and nearly took our lives. Yet

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Speaker 3: praise be to God that David and his men came

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Speaker 3: swiftly to our aid and saved us. They even retrieved

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Speaker 3: your sheep. And as go to us home, these are

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Speaker 3: his servants. They are here to humbly request your hospitality.

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Speaker 2: Just as David's servants were about to speak, Nabal rose

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Speaker 2: his hand and began to chuckle David.

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Speaker 4: He shouted, who is David, that outlaw son of Jesse.

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Speaker 4: I see many slaves are leaving the masters these days.

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Speaker 2: He scoffed the portly landowner leaned over and spat in

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Speaker 2: the servants direction.

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Speaker 4: Why should I offer my bread, my meat and my

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Speaker 4: water and give it to some worthless nobody like him?

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Speaker 4: Get out of my sight before I call my dogs

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Speaker 4: on you.

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Speaker 2: The servants said nothing. They simply bowed and left the halls.

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Speaker 2: Nabal continued to laugh and drink. Leaning back in his seat, satisfied,

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Speaker 2: Abigail peered over to him.

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Speaker 5: Are you certain you want to insult the man who

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Speaker 5: saved Israel from the Philistines, she said quietly.

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Speaker 2: Nabal glared at his wife. He spat to the side

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Speaker 2: and held out his empty Get me more wine.

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Speaker 4: Why you are more beautiful when you quietly filled my cup?

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Speaker 2: Abigail said nothing. She took her husband's cup and left

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Speaker 2: into the kitchen. David's men arrived that night. All the

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Speaker 2: others were sitting by the fires, eating and laughing. David

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Speaker 2: was among them, telling valiant stories of battle beside Jonathan.

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Speaker 2: When the servants approached, he could tell they were despondent.

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Speaker 2: Why the downcast faces, brothers, David asked. The men sat

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Speaker 2: down and rubbed their faces.

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Speaker 3: Nibal has rejected our request.

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Speaker 2: They said, Why is that? David asked As he sat

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Speaker 2: down beside.

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Speaker 3: Them, he said he did not want to waste his

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Speaker 3: resources on nobody like you. He called you a slave

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Speaker 3: who ran away from his master.

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Speaker 2: David's entire countenance changed. The Rest of the men stepped back,

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Speaker 2: feeling the anger leaking from his pores. David's bones were

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Speaker 2: shaking in raid. He stood to his feet and stormed

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Speaker 2: to his tent. The men wondered if he had retreated

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Speaker 2: for the night to think and pray, as he often did. However,

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Speaker 2: he did not. He emerged from the tent fully clothed

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Speaker 2: in his armor, with his sword strapped to his side.

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Speaker 3: All of you strap on your swords.

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Speaker 2: David commanded. They did not question him. Each man retrieved

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Speaker 2: his weapon and stood at attention.

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Speaker 3: Some of you will stay and watch camp. Four hundred

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Speaker 3: of you will come with me. I will not allow

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Speaker 3: Nibal to dishonor us after everything we have done for

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Speaker 3: his land. It is a disgrace, and I will not

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Speaker 3: allow him to spite us.

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Speaker 2: Asa Hel, David shouted. The young man stood at attention

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Speaker 2: in front of his commander.

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Speaker 3: You are the fastest among us. You will go ahead

226
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Speaker 3: and tell the shepherds we met to take cover for

227
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Speaker 3: destruction is on its way to Neibal's house.

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Speaker 2: Assahl bowed his head and ran into the wilderness. Long

229
00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,040
Speaker 2: and lean legs burst like a gazelle's. David knew word

230
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Speaker 2: would reach them quick. David turned to the rest of

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Speaker 2: his men and gestured for them to march forward.

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Speaker 3: We go now. We shall make it to the front

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Speaker 3: of Nabal's land before daybreak.

234
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Speaker 2: So the men marched silently. No one dared speak to

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Speaker 2: David or question his judgment. David did not boil with

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Speaker 2: fury often, but when he did, the men knew not

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Speaker 2: to approach him. In his belly was a righteous fire

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Speaker 2: that would consume all who approached Abigail. The door burst

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Speaker 2: open and one of the shepherds came into her room.

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Speaker 3: I am sorry, mistress, but I must speak with you.

241
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Speaker 2: What is wrong, Abigail asked gently. Her hair was down

242
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Speaker 2: and draped over her shoulders. The shepherd was lost for

243
00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,840
Speaker 2: a moment in her beauty. Her eyes were a light hazel,

244
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Speaker 2: and in them held the wisdom and tact of a

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Speaker 2: true leader. However, she had been relegated to basic household chores.

246
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Speaker 3: David gave a request to your husband for a suis

247
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Speaker 3: simple act of kindness. Yet he hurled insults back at him,

248
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Speaker 3: and I fear the anger of David has been kindled

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Speaker 3: against him.

250
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Speaker 2: The shepherd said, is this.

251
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Speaker 5: David so fragile that he would kill my husband just

252
00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,240
Speaker 5: for insulting him? That does not sound like the man

253
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Speaker 5: of legend everyone speaks of.

254
00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,880
Speaker 3: Abigail said, that is not it at all, my lady.

255
00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,760
Speaker 3: David and his men were very good to us. They

256
00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,880
Speaker 3: provided protection for us. They put their own lives in

257
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,000
Speaker 3: danger to help us when they could have simply looked

258
00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,280
Speaker 3: the other way. They did not mistreat us or get territorial.

259
00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,440
Speaker 3: In fact, they even helped us round our sheet back up.

260
00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,480
Speaker 3: He was our protector, and he is the reason the

261
00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,760
Speaker 3: bal did not lose his entire flock. Now do you

262
00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,200
Speaker 3: understand why David would be so insulted?

263
00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,200
Speaker 2: The shepherd boy was beginning to shake in fear and sorrow.

264
00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,280
Speaker 2: Clearly David had a lasting impact on him. In just

265
00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,840
Speaker 2: a matter of days, David was able to engender more

266
00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,560
Speaker 2: loyalty in this boy than the ball could in years.

267
00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,920
Speaker 2: Who is this man, Abigail thought to herself. She was intrigued.

268
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Speaker 5: My husband is a stubborn man. Abigail said, I cannot

269
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Speaker 5: convince him to apologize. Even if David threatens his life.

270
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Speaker 3: Then what shall we do. I'm sure David will come

271
00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,160
Speaker 3: to kill all the men under Nabal's guard.

272
00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,000
Speaker 2: Abigail pondered for a moment. She tied up her hair

273
00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,320
Speaker 2: and rolled up her sleeves.

274
00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:26,920
Speaker 5: Come down with me, we shall make this rite.

275
00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,680
Speaker 2: Abigail ventured to the ovens and kitchen. She clapped her

276
00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,080
Speaker 2: hands together and grabbed the attention of the servants.

277
00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,200
Speaker 5: Come with me, we haven't got much time together.

278
00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,840
Speaker 2: They baked and gathered two hundred loaves of bread. They

279
00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,400
Speaker 2: poured two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, and five

280
00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,440
Speaker 2: saws of roasted grain. Abigail and the others also made

281
00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,760
Speaker 2: a hundred raisin cakes and two hundred cakes of fresh figs.

282
00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,240
Speaker 5: Help me gather everything in baskets. We shall load them.

283
00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:55,680
Speaker 2: On the donkey, Abigail ordered.

284
00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:57,760
Speaker 5: Quickly, it is almost sun up.

285
00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:02,840
Speaker 2: Abigail worked tirelessly. Then, once the baskets were loaded onto

286
00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,600
Speaker 2: a donkey, she sent two of her maid servants to

287
00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,040
Speaker 2: go and deliver them to David.

288
00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:09,280
Speaker 5: Go and meet the men before they come in attack.

289
00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,120
Speaker 5: Tell them I will be close behind.

290
00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,920
Speaker 2: The maid servants did as they were told, and took

291
00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,560
Speaker 2: the donkey up the hill towards the mountain ravine. The

292
00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,880
Speaker 2: sun was rising over the mountain range. David and his

293
00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,360
Speaker 2: men stood in the narrow ravine, looking down at the

294
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,560
Speaker 2: Ball's estate. They waited for the first light to show

295
00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:31,240
Speaker 2: itself behind them. The sun's rays burst forth, uninhibited by

296
00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,960
Speaker 2: any cloud covering. The warmth of the new morning was

297
00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:38,040
Speaker 2: a sweet relief to David's men, who had been marching

298
00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:42,000
Speaker 2: all night. David drew his sword and breathed in deeply.

299
00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,240
Speaker 2: He was unable to calm himself all night. His fury

300
00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:50,760
Speaker 2: was steady and unwavering. Shama could see David's hands trembling

301
00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:51,360
Speaker 2: with rage.

302
00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,120
Speaker 3: Are you ready, David.

303
00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,920
Speaker 2: He asked gently. David turned and clenched his jaw.

304
00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,040
Speaker 3: It has been useless watching over them, this man's property

305
00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,960
Speaker 3: all these weeks, and keeping his servants safe. Not just

306
00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,359
Speaker 3: with the shepherds, but all his other supplies coming in

307
00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,440
Speaker 3: and out, have been protected by us. I am done

308
00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:16,640
Speaker 3: paying this man kindness, only to be repaid in insults.

309
00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:21,640
Speaker 3: He paid back evil for good. May God deal with

310
00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,720
Speaker 3: me severely if I leave one of his men alive

311
00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,600
Speaker 3: by the time the day is finished.

312
00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,600
Speaker 2: David turned back to his men and gestured for them

313
00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:34,080
Speaker 2: to move forward. Just as they began marching, three figures

314
00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,600
Speaker 2: appeared in the distance. Two women and a donkey approached.

315
00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,680
Speaker 2: David held his men back and allowed them to come.

316
00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,159
Speaker 2: They bowed before David and presented him with the gifts

317
00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:46,879
Speaker 2: of cakes, bread and wine.

318
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Speaker 5: Our Lord, David, here is a gift from the house

319
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Speaker 5: of Nebal.

320
00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,399
Speaker 2: Shama and Eliezar looked in the baskets and laughed at

321
00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,879
Speaker 2: the exorbitant amount of food and law. However, David was

322
00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,959
Speaker 2: suspicious of the gesture Ball sent these himself.

323
00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,600
Speaker 5: David inquired, not Nabal, but our mistress Abigail. They replied,

324
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Speaker 5: she is on her way to greet you now.

325
00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,840
Speaker 2: David looked back at his men, still teeming with rage

326
00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,320
Speaker 2: against a ball. His disgruntled heart was still itching for

327
00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:19,199
Speaker 2: a fight. He had been taken advantage of and ridiculed

328
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,920
Speaker 2: for the last time, and he wanted justice. However, all

329
00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,000
Speaker 2: feelings of aggression and contempt seemed to melt away when

330
00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:31,360
Speaker 2: David looked ahead to see Abigail. Her dark brown curls

331
00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,240
Speaker 2: cascaded over her shoulders like waterfalls. She wore a dark

332
00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,879
Speaker 2: green dress that hugged her body tightly. She wore no

333
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,000
Speaker 2: jewels upon her neck. It was elegant and beautiful enough,

334
00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,919
Speaker 2: not needing any ornament to distract from just how perfect

335
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:50,600
Speaker 2: it was. Her light, hazel eyes captured David's attention immediately,

336
00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:54,320
Speaker 2: and he felt himself being pulled in close by them.

337
00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,960
Speaker 2: David walked out to Abigail. They stopped in the middle,

338
00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,240
Speaker 2: taking each other in for a long, long moment before speaking.

339
00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,320
Speaker 2: Neither of them expected the other to look the way

340
00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:08,679
Speaker 2: they did. Abigail scanned David up and down. He was

341
00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,080
Speaker 2: not as tall and broad as one would expect from

342
00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,879
Speaker 2: someone of his reputation. He was average height, but carry

343
00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,199
Speaker 2: himself as if he was a hundred feet tall. She

344
00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,840
Speaker 2: perused his body that had been formed from hours of

345
00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,879
Speaker 2: running in the sheep pastures and battling philistines. Her eyes

346
00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:28,119
Speaker 2: met his. They were slightly hidden by his light curls

347
00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,640
Speaker 2: that were swaying in the breeze. Abigail broke the silence

348
00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,200
Speaker 2: and bowed to David, Please, my.

349
00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,560
Speaker 5: Lord, pardon the household of my husband. Pay no attention

350
00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,959
Speaker 5: to his wicked and ignorant comments. He is a fool.

351
00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,879
Speaker 5: Folly follows that man like moths to a flame.

352
00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,199
Speaker 2: Abigail lifted her head and gestured to the army of

353
00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,520
Speaker 2: men behind David. They were waiting at a distance, ready

354
00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:51,840
Speaker 2: for David's orders to attack.

355
00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,200
Speaker 5: I have provided gifts for you and your men. May

356
00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,159
Speaker 5: God bless you for your mercy against the House of Nebal.

357
00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,560
Speaker 5: May He give you a law lasting dynasty because you

358
00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,919
Speaker 5: fight the Lord's battles, not petty squabbles because of an

359
00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,600
Speaker 5: obtuse and cranky man. I know that even though King

360
00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:12,320
Speaker 5: Saul pursues you, your life is bound securely by the Lord,

361
00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,600
Speaker 5: your God. The lives of your enemies will be hurled

362
00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,040
Speaker 5: away like a stone from your sling when God has

363
00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,240
Speaker 5: fulfilled his calling for you and made you king. Do

364
00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,159
Speaker 5: you really want your conscience consumed with an act of

365
00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:26,359
Speaker 5: needless bloodshed.

366
00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:31,600
Speaker 2: Abigail's words were kind, tactful, and wise. David took notice

367
00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,600
Speaker 2: that she was not only fair in appearance, but adorned

368
00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:38,240
Speaker 2: with an inner beauty. A gentle yet strong spirit dwelled

369
00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,840
Speaker 2: within her, and David was curious to discover more of it.

370
00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,560
Speaker 2: He looked back at his men and gestured for them

371
00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,639
Speaker 2: to be at ease. They immediately went for the baskets

372
00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:51,160
Speaker 2: of bread and cakes. David laughed and looked again at Abigail.

373
00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,080
Speaker 2: He composed himself. Although he was a valiant and well

374
00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:59,080
Speaker 2: known warrior, inside he could still feel like a child

375
00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,760
Speaker 2: speaking to abuse woman. Praise the Lord for you, Abigail,

376
00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:07,639
Speaker 2: he said. Your good judgment has kept me from mindless

377
00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:12,399
Speaker 2: revenge and petty bloodshed. It is not like me to

378
00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:17,159
Speaker 2: be kindled this easily. If God had not sent you,

379
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,080
Speaker 2: not one male in Nabal's home would have been left alive.

380
00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,280
Speaker 5: I can only imagine what you and your.

381
00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,160
Speaker 2: Men have been through, Abigail said.

382
00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,560
Speaker 5: You have gone beyond what others would have done and

383
00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:31,639
Speaker 5: protected the young men from raiders. Nabal cannot see what

384
00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,400
Speaker 5: I see. That you are the next king of Israel.

385
00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,320
Speaker 2: Abigail's words were like a bomb to David's wounded heart.

386
00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,680
Speaker 2: This woman, a stranger, had also recognized David's calling as king.

387
00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,679
Speaker 2: A bashful grin came across his face, making him chuckle.

388
00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:53,000
Speaker 2: Abigail laughed as well. The two of them shared a

389
00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,879
Speaker 2: small moment of connection, followed by a beautiful silence that

390
00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,679
Speaker 2: David did not want to end, for he knew the

391
00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:00,800
Speaker 2: next words would.

392
00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,280
Speaker 3: Have to be go home in peace, Abigail, your words

393
00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:09,400
Speaker 3: have saved not only your husband's life, but also my integrity.

394
00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,600
Speaker 2: Abigail bowed and returned to her donkey with her maid servants.

395
00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,760
Speaker 2: David turned back to enjoy the gifts with his men.

396
00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,320
Speaker 2: Both of them resisted the desire to turn around and

397
00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:24,560
Speaker 2: steal another glance. As Abigail trotted back to her husband's home,

398
00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,399
Speaker 2: she could not help but smile. David had listened to

399
00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,600
Speaker 2: her and heeded her wisdom, something her husband had always

400
00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:37,239
Speaker 2: refused to do. Abigail went back home. The servants were

401
00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,520
Speaker 2: busy tending to the kitchen for one of Nabal's decadent feasts.

402
00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,760
Speaker 2: Gie would hold large and elaborate banquets like that of

403
00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,840
Speaker 2: a king, spoiling himself with expensive spirits and exotic meats.

404
00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,760
Speaker 2: His gluttony and self indulgence was famous throughout the region,

405
00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,639
Speaker 2: and many rich men who shared the same proclivity for

406
00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:59,119
Speaker 2: lavished inners would join him. It was past noon and

407
00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,879
Speaker 2: the ball was all already considerably drunk. Abigail entered the

408
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:07,119
Speaker 2: hall and sat next to him. We if you've been.

409
00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,720
Speaker 4: The ball slurred, my cup has been in need of filling.

410
00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,359
Speaker 5: You are already drunk, and it is just now high noon.

411
00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:20,320
Speaker 2: Abigail whispered, not luxury, the Ball said, grabbing Abigail's wrist

412
00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:21,600
Speaker 2: tightly and pulling her in.

413
00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,119
Speaker 3: You are mine, he laughed.

414
00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:29,640
Speaker 2: Abigail recoiled in disgust and pulled away. The Ball's grip

415
00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,919
Speaker 2: became tighter. He gritted his teeth and brought Abigail in

416
00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,440
Speaker 2: close for a kiss. She hated the way he treated her.

417
00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:41,120
Speaker 2: She hated living under his roof and enduring his cruelty. However,

418
00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,399
Speaker 2: she was bound by a marriage that was arranged by

419
00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,359
Speaker 2: her father. Trapped without love, a prisoner in her own home,

420
00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,680
Speaker 2: Abigail was about to tell the Ball of how she

421
00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,880
Speaker 2: saved him and his men. However, she held her tongue.

422
00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,400
Speaker 2: Knowing that there was no use in speaking with him

423
00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,720
Speaker 2: in this state, She walked out, allowing him to drown

424
00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,439
Speaker 2: him in his own depravity. Abigail went up to her

425
00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,399
Speaker 2: chambers and looked out the window. She longed for a

426
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,560
Speaker 2: different life, a life of adventure and intrigue. As she

427
00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,480
Speaker 2: gazed out of the sunset, watching the light of day

428
00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:18,080
Speaker 2: fade into the horizon, she thought of David. Early the

429
00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,359
Speaker 2: next morning, Abigail found the Ball hunched over his seat,

430
00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,639
Speaker 2: half asleep over his breakfast. She soldered in regally, not

431
00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:29,440
Speaker 2: allowing his repulsive demeanor to ruin her mourning. She sat

432
00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,040
Speaker 2: at the other end of the table, pouring water from

433
00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:33,400
Speaker 2: a basin into her cup.

434
00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,360
Speaker 5: You and your friends ate all the bread last night,

435
00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,480
Speaker 5: and there was none left for the shepherds and servants

436
00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:38,840
Speaker 5: to eat.

437
00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,760
Speaker 2: Abigail said, abruptly, woman, what did I tell you about

438
00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:43,639
Speaker 2: lecturing me?

439
00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,600
Speaker 4: Shut your mouth, or I shall shut.

440
00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:50,760
Speaker 2: It for you. The ball mumbled. Abigail fumed with anger.

441
00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,240
Speaker 5: You ought to thank mena Bal I stopped David, the

442
00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,959
Speaker 5: giant slayer and his men from raiding our home and

443
00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:01,720
Speaker 5: killing you last night. After you foolishly insulted him, he

444
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,080
Speaker 5: marched up against you. If it were not for me

445
00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,399
Speaker 5: and these servants, you would have met the tip of

446
00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:07,000
Speaker 5: his spear.

447
00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,760
Speaker 2: Nabal's eyes widened and he burst out, flipping the table

448
00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:11,639
Speaker 2: over you.

449
00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:16,080
Speaker 4: Insolent, childish, disobedient.

450
00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,800
Speaker 2: Nabal stopped abruptly and gripped his chest. He gasped, reached

451
00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,720
Speaker 2: forward for Abigail, then fell forward unto his face. The

452
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,800
Speaker 2: years of self indulgence had come for a reckoning. Nebal's

453
00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:33,560
Speaker 2: body became like a stone. For ten days, Abigail faithfully

454
00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:37,600
Speaker 2: attended to him, assuring he was comfortable and taken care of. Then,

455
00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,159
Speaker 2: after ten days, the Lord struck Nabald dead and his

456
00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,560
Speaker 2: heart ceased to beat. The foul and angry husband of

457
00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:47,520
Speaker 2: Abigail was dead, and she was made a widow to

458
00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:51,440
Speaker 2: attend to the home alone. Word of Nebal's death spread

459
00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:55,520
Speaker 2: and one of David's messengers returned with the news. David's

460
00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,439
Speaker 2: heart felt a sense of relief and thankfulness, not that

461
00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,520
Speaker 2: Nebal was dead, but that the Lord had spared him

462
00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,879
Speaker 2: from spilling his blood. David walked into the woods and

463
00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:06,560
Speaker 2: prayed to the Lord, saying.

464
00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:10,920
Speaker 3: Praise you God, Praise you for your justice and kindness.

465
00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,160
Speaker 3: You upheld my cause against Nebal. You kept me from

466
00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,760
Speaker 3: mindless bloodshed. You sent Abigail to.

467
00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:24,080
Speaker 2: David stopped for a moment. He remembered Abigail. He remembered

468
00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,399
Speaker 2: her kind and wise eyes, and her smooth skin. He

469
00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,000
Speaker 2: was thankful for her wisdom and devotion to the Lord.

470
00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,640
Speaker 2: If it were not for her, David would have harnished

471
00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,920
Speaker 2: his name. He felt a flutter in his stomach and smiled.

472
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,720
Speaker 3: Abigail, What a breathtaking woman, he.

473
00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:46,240
Speaker 2: Thought to himself. David closed his eyes and smiled. He

474
00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,439
Speaker 2: shook his head and lifted his hands to heaven. He

475
00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,720
Speaker 2: sprinted out of the woods and retrieved a horse Without

476
00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,480
Speaker 2: telling his men, David galloped to Nabal's home. It was

477
00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,560
Speaker 2: late and the stars were brightly arrayed over the horizon.

478
00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,719
Speaker 2: David rode up to Abigail's home and looked up. Abigail

479
00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,840
Speaker 2: was once again sitting at her window. The two of

480
00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:10,520
Speaker 2: them locked eyes. Abigail smiled and came down to David.

481
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,800
Speaker 2: She opened the door and David was there, wearing a

482
00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,760
Speaker 2: nervous grin. She let him in and the two of

483
00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:20,040
Speaker 2: them spoke into the night. They shared their souls with

484
00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:25,760
Speaker 2: one another, exchanging stories, emotions, and laughter. Abigail swooned over David.

485
00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:29,080
Speaker 2: Yet what drew Abigail in most was not the way

486
00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,960
Speaker 2: David looked, but the sound of his voice. Every word

487
00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,080
Speaker 2: from his mouth was like a hymn specifically composed to

488
00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:40,720
Speaker 2: make her heart swoon. Then, in one perfect moment, David

489
00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,320
Speaker 2: kissed her. Their bodies drew close to one another, and

490
00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:48,520
Speaker 2: all the pain of past years disappeared. For that one moment,

491
00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:51,160
Speaker 2: David did not feel like a man on the run,

492
00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:55,000
Speaker 2: Abigail did not feel like a forgotten bride, and David

493
00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:58,640
Speaker 2: did not feel like a forgotten son. That night, they

494
00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:02,560
Speaker 2: fell in love. The next day, Abigail left with David

495
00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,520
Speaker 2: to be his bride. She would follow David and his

496
00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:09,960
Speaker 2: men through the wilderness, offering her wisdom, affection, and devotion.

497
00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,000
Speaker 1: The death of one thing usually signifies the birth of another.

498
00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,720
Speaker 1: This is a prevailing theme in scripture as well as nature.

499
00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:26,440
Speaker 1: If you are a resident of California or any area

500
00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:30,000
Speaker 1: where wildfires are common, you know that the destruction of

501
00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:33,320
Speaker 1: plants on the hills is usually replaced with new and

502
00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,120
Speaker 1: lush life. The mountain ranges are singed, but it opens

503
00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,600
Speaker 1: the seeds so new life can be born when the

504
00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:43,840
Speaker 1: rain comes. This is the rhythm of scripture. When there

505
00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,480
Speaker 1: is a prominent death or loss of something significant, it

506
00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,120
Speaker 1: signals to us that something new is coming. The prelude

507
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,760
Speaker 1: is a scene from Samuel's funeral. The death of Israel's

508
00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,080
Speaker 1: last judge signals to us that change is coming. A

509
00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,880
Speaker 1: new way to hear from God is coming, and David

510
00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:04,400
Speaker 1: will be used to spark a new revival. Samuel was

511
00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,840
Speaker 1: the moral compass of Israel, continually pointing them toward God.

512
00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,560
Speaker 1: Without him, Israel will need someone to point them towards

513
00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,920
Speaker 1: their true north. It can't be solved whose mind has

514
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,720
Speaker 1: completely descended into darkness. The role will be vacant until

515
00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:22,479
Speaker 1: David can take the throne. The prelude also features a

516
00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:26,560
Speaker 1: loss of relationship. As the rain's poor and harps sound,

517
00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,160
Speaker 1: David watches another man put his arms around his wife.

518
00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,720
Speaker 1: He feels the pangs of heartbreak, mixed with the sober

519
00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,920
Speaker 1: reality that he is no longer a prince of Israel.

520
00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,880
Speaker 1: He has no title given to him by marriage or

521
00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,600
Speaker 1: status in Israel. All that remains is the legend of

522
00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:47,480
Speaker 1: Goliath and rumors of his heroism in the wilderness. The

523
00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,840
Speaker 1: people are still pining after him, though eagerly awaiting the

524
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:53,760
Speaker 1: day when he can return. It has taken a long

525
00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:57,120
Speaker 1: time for David to embody what everybody else knew to

526
00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,600
Speaker 1: be true all along. He is the king. How much

527
00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:02,760
Speaker 1: long ago will we have to wait for his rise

528
00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,560
Speaker 1: to the throne? You will have to keep listening to

529
00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:09,080
Speaker 1: find out. After the prelude, we're sent back to the wilderness,

530
00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:12,280
Speaker 1: where David and his men have continued to watch over

531
00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:17,560
Speaker 1: Israel like vigilantes. Their army of misfits rise up against bandits,

532
00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:21,560
Speaker 1: highwaymen and raiders that threaten the local properties and villages.

533
00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,920
Speaker 1: In the beginning of the episode, David and his men

534
00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,560
Speaker 1: free some shepherds that have been taken captive by bandits.

535
00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:32,640
Speaker 1: They don't save them for any reward, but David does

536
00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,120
Speaker 1: request that their master received them into his home for

537
00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,400
Speaker 1: the upcoming festival. It's been a while since David and

538
00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:41,920
Speaker 1: his men have had any sort of respite, and they

539
00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:45,320
Speaker 1: seem desperate for it. The men have adapted well to

540
00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,680
Speaker 1: life on the run, however, they are creature comforts that

541
00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,800
Speaker 1: they have been deprived of. For the sake of his men,

542
00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:54,800
Speaker 1: David would take a break. This seems like the perfect

543
00:30:54,880 --> 00:31:00,000
Speaker 1: opportunity for him to get his men some well deserved rest. Naypall, however, returned,

544
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:05,520
Speaker 1: earns David's kindness with an insult. David's reaction is somewhat uncharacteristic.

545
00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,600
Speaker 1: The story tells us how David reacts. It says David's

546
00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,320
Speaker 1: entire countenance changed. The rest of the men stepped back,

547
00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:17,600
Speaker 1: feeling the anger leaking from his pores. David's bones were

548
00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:21,000
Speaker 1: shaking in rage. He stood to his feet and stormed

549
00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:23,880
Speaker 1: to his tent. The men wondered if he had retreated

550
00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:27,320
Speaker 1: for the night to think and pray, as he often did. However,

551
00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:30,400
Speaker 1: he did not. He emerged from the tent fully clothed

552
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,000
Speaker 1: in his armor, with his sword strapped to his side.

553
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,120
Speaker 1: David wants to go scorched earth on nay Ball. This

554
00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:40,440
Speaker 1: furious reaction is out of character for someone as merciful

555
00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:44,480
Speaker 1: as David. What set him off a few things. First,

556
00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:47,800
Speaker 1: one small dinner seemed like a fair reward for weeks

557
00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:52,680
Speaker 1: of protection. Second, Naball didn't simply refuse. He went out

558
00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:56,360
Speaker 1: of his way to insult David. Third, he it has

559
00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,880
Speaker 1: been attired. We can't ignore the human element of these stories.

560
00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,520
Speaker 1: Have you ever been tired, hungry, and insulted all at once?

561
00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:07,000
Speaker 1: Think of all the harsh things you've said and done

562
00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,720
Speaker 1: because you lack sleep, food, and basic courtesy. Imagine that

563
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:14,560
Speaker 1: feeling times a thousand. David is feeling the fatigue of

564
00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:18,320
Speaker 1: fighting in the wilderness, defending its country, being abandoned by

565
00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:24,600
Speaker 1: his wife and grieving Samuel, and now Nayball flagrantly denigrates David.

566
00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:28,760
Speaker 1: After saving his servants, Nayball stepped on a landline, and

567
00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,280
Speaker 1: David is about to explode. Let's pause for a moment

568
00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:35,680
Speaker 1: and revisit something we have talked about in previous episodes.

569
00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:39,320
Speaker 1: David's outrage is not meant to give us an example

570
00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,360
Speaker 1: of what we are allowed to do. In Scripture, there

571
00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:46,600
Speaker 1: are descriptions and prescriptions. Descriptions are meant to tell us

572
00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:49,640
Speaker 1: what happened, and we can parse through the story to

573
00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:53,280
Speaker 1: find messages that pertain to us. Prescriptions are meant to

574
00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:56,280
Speaker 1: tell us what we should do and how we should

575
00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:00,000
Speaker 1: act in a specific situation. The Old Testament, in particular,

576
00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:03,800
Speaker 1: is filled with descriptions of events such as Jacob having

577
00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:08,240
Speaker 1: several wives. Now, that does not mean the Bible condemns polygamy,

578
00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:12,120
Speaker 1: certainly not. The story is describing what happened, and the

579
00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,600
Speaker 1: events of Jacob's life warned us that polygamy is a

580
00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,640
Speaker 1: blatantly wrong thing to do. David is ready to march

581
00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:23,080
Speaker 1: against Naball and slaughter every man under his rank, and

582
00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:25,760
Speaker 1: that is not meant to tell us revenge is okay.

583
00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,120
Speaker 1: In fact, what happens next in the story sends the

584
00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:33,800
Speaker 1: opposite message. We are introduced to Abigail, Naball's wife, and

585
00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:39,360
Speaker 1: the theme of contrast is reintroduced in this episode. Naball

586
00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:43,640
Speaker 1: is gluttonous, sour, and foolish, while Abigail is beautiful, kind

587
00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,320
Speaker 1: and wise. She knows what a grave mistake her husband

588
00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:50,480
Speaker 1: has made and seeks to prevent David's wrath from falling

589
00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:54,360
Speaker 1: on his household. This introduces us to an eternal and

590
00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:58,760
Speaker 1: prevailing concept. A good woman is necessary to tame a

591
00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:04,520
Speaker 1: bad Mannabal, unfortunately for Abigail, is a particularly unruly beast.

592
00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:10,200
Speaker 1: He is angry, rude, and contemptuous. His drunkenness makes him

593
00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,800
Speaker 1: unable to appreciate the treasure he has. She is poised,

594
00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:16,880
Speaker 1: under pressure, tries to right the wrongs caused by her

595
00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:21,000
Speaker 1: husband by providing gifts to David and his men. David

596
00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:24,600
Speaker 1: is another beast in need of taming, and Abigail comes

597
00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:30,360
Speaker 1: out to do so. Unlike Nabel, David submits to Abigail's kindness.

598
00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:34,240
Speaker 1: Her gesture calms him down and sets his mind straight.

599
00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:38,360
Speaker 1: She is the guiding, conscious and tempered voice that David

600
00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:42,480
Speaker 1: didn't know he needed. David's son, Solomon, would eventually go

601
00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:47,200
Speaker 1: on to write A kind word turns away wrath. Abigail's

602
00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:50,719
Speaker 1: kindness turns away David's wrath, and he is sober enough

603
00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:53,680
Speaker 1: to see what a terrible mistake he was about to make.

604
00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:58,920
Speaker 1: Abigail saved David from his own rage. Marching against Nabel's

605
00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:02,080
Speaker 1: house would have been terrible sin, and David would have

606
00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:05,120
Speaker 1: regretted it for the rest of his life. This beautiful

607
00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:08,959
Speaker 1: stranger stepped in like an angel, touched his weary soul

608
00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:13,600
Speaker 1: and soothed him back to sanity. David and Abigail go

609
00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:17,800
Speaker 1: their separate ways, both wondering about the other. It makes sense,

610
00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:21,320
Speaker 1: doesn't it. Abigail is married to a pig, and David's

611
00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:24,239
Speaker 1: wife has just been given to another man. It is

612
00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:28,120
Speaker 1: inevitable that they would be drawn to each other. Circumstances

613
00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:32,120
Speaker 1: make way for their romance to continue as Nabal falls

614
00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,160
Speaker 1: dead from what we can assume was a heart attack.

615
00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:39,920
Speaker 1: Ah gluttony the most subtle of all the deadly sins.

616
00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:44,960
Speaker 1: Its bite is slow, comforting and cruel. It came for Nebel,

617
00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:48,960
Speaker 1: leaving Abigail a widow. It came as no surprise to

618
00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,600
Speaker 1: any of us that she and David fell in love

619
00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:56,000
Speaker 1: shortly after they would wed, and Abigail rode off with

620
00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:59,919
Speaker 1: David into the wilderness for a life of adventure. Don't

621
00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,799
Speaker 1: hear much about Abigail after this. There will be a

622
00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,520
Speaker 1: glimpse of her from time to time, but for the

623
00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,560
Speaker 1: most part, she will remain hidden in the margins of

624
00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:12,600
Speaker 1: David's story. However, her influence will become clear as David

625
00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:17,520
Speaker 1: navigates life as a hero, king, poet, and politician. Not

626
00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:20,640
Speaker 1: every figure in David's life is mentioned as much as

627
00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:23,480
Speaker 1: we'd like, but we are grateful for their influence in

628
00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,520
Speaker 1: his life. Nonetheless, we will look for signs of her

629
00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:30,239
Speaker 1: wisdom and temperance in David's life as a story continues.

630
00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:33,359
Speaker 1: In our next episode, David will need to hold firm

631
00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:36,359
Speaker 1: to his convictions and not give into passion. We can

632
00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,680
Speaker 1: only hope that as the pressure mounts, he can remain

633
00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:43,880
Speaker 1: tether to wisdom. Join us next time for episode fourteen,

634
00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:48,640
Speaker 1: The King Spear. Thank you for listening. For more inspiring stories,

635
00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:51,920
Speaker 1: daily prayers and wisdom to last the lifetime, go to

636
00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:55,200
Speaker 1: pray dot com and to expand your heroes in the

637
00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:58,960
Speaker 1: Bible Journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at

638
00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:03,040
Speaker 1: Tony Evans dot or forward slash Heroes. Write a review

639
00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:06,560
Speaker 1: and let us know how this podcast has impacted your life.

640
00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:07,720
Speaker 1: God bless