Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

In I Samuel 25 the death of Samuel seems to be a side note.  What is most important appears to be a man named Nabal who is shearer sheep near where David and his men are camped.  Representatives of the second king visit him and request a share of their food.  The reason they ask is that these soldiers served as security for Nabal’s shepherds.

The shepherd’s boss not only refuses the request but is very rude to David’s representatives.  When he hears this the former shepherd decides to exact revenge for the slight by not only killing Nabal, as well as everyone in his family.

Fortunately, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, hears of the encounter and jumps into action.  She prepares provisions for the soldiers and sets out to intercept them.  Due to her intervention, the crisis is averted, and David is impressed.

Returning to her husband, Abigail tells about the raiding party that she was able to avert.  The realization of his imminent death causes a seizure that ultimately takes his life.  Becoming a widow allows David to take Abigail as his wife after an acceptable period.

Some people help David and others turn against him and support King Saul.  In I Samuel 26 the Ziphites go to the king and tell them where his enemy is hiding.  The Israelite soldiers make camp as close to the rebels as they can.  This works well for the former shepherd.  He sneaks into the camp and takes a water pitcher and spear that are next to Saul’s head.

The following morning the young man asks the older man to look for these two items.  They cannot be found.  They are returned to the King and once again he makes it sound like he has had a change of heart.  The two go their separate ways.  David does not return home like Saul.  He stays in hiding.

David and his six hundred men and their families decide to leave the land of Israel in I Samuel 27.  The idea of their being accepted by any of the Philistines does not seem very intelligent on the part of their former enemies.

Ziklag is the city that is given for them to occupy.  The thing that they must do is keep their activities secret.  When they leave the city of Ziklag they go to other Philistines communities and destroy them.  No one is left alive.  All the plunder is taken.  They are asked where the loot came from and they specify towns in Israel.  The surprising thing is that they believe David and do not check out the areas specified.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger