Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” 1 Samuel 25:32-33
After Samuel’s death, David moved to the Wilderness of Paran. There he encountered shepherds tending the flocks of the wealthy Nabal – an insolent, rude, and contentious man who happened to be married to a beautiful, intelligent, and intuitive woman named Abigail.
When Nabal offended David, Abigail very quickly took steps to defuse a volatile situation. She gathered a feast and went out to meet David. Abigail’s decisive actions calmed David and diverted him from avenging himself on Nabal’s whole household. Regardless of her husband’s inappropriate behavior, Abigail responded forthrightly and respectfully, and God Himself soon avenged David by removing Nabal from the equation
David knew a woman of God when he saw one, and after Nabal’s death he married Abigail. David valued Abigail’s strength and felt greatly attracted to this highly capable female leader.