1 Samuel 25:3-5

25:3 The man’s name was Nabal, ¹  and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise ²  and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.

25:4 When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 25:5 he ³  sent ten servants, ⁴  saying to them, ⁵  “Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name. ⁶ 

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¹ sn The name נָבָל (Nabal) means “foolish” or “senseless” in Hebrew, and as an adjective the word is used especially of persons who have no perception of ethical or religious claims. It is an apt name for this character, who certainly typifies such behavior.

² tn Heb “good of insight”; KJV “of good understanding”; NAB, NIV, TEV “intelligent”; NRSV “clever.”

³ tn Heb “David”; for stylistic reasons the pronoun has been used in the translation.

⁴ tn Or “young men.”

⁵ tn Heb “and David said to the young men.”

⁶ tn Heb “and inquire concerning him in my name in regard to peace.”