וַיָּמָת שְׁמוּאֵל וַיִּקָּבְצוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּסְפְּדוּ לוֹ וַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ בְּבֵיתוֹ בָּרָמָה וַיָּקָם דָּוִד וַיֵּרֶד אֶל מִדְבַּר פָּארָן

Samuel died, and all Israel gathered and eulogized him, and they buried him in his home in Rama. David may also have eulogized Samuel, but if so, he did not remain in the vicinity for long: David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

וְאִישׁ בְּמָעוֹן וּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ בַכַּרְמֶל וְהָאִישׁ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד וְלוֹ צֹאן שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וְאֶלֶף עִזִּים וַיְהִי בִּגְזֹז אֶת צֹאנוֹ בַּכַּרְמֶל

There was a man in Maon, a city in the inheritance of Judah, and his property, or his occupation, estates, or cattle, was in Carmel, in Judah. The man was very great, he owned a large amount of property, and he had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. It was when he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

וְשֵׁם הָאִישׁ נָבָל וְשֵׁם אִשְׁתּוֹ אֲבִגָיִל וְהָאִשָּׁה טוֹבַת שֶׂכֶל וִיפַת תֹּאַר וְהָאִישׁ קָשֶׁה וְרַע מַעֲלָלִים וְהוּא כָלִבִּי

The name of the man was Naval. This might have been his real name, as apart from its negative connotation, it could be based on nevel, lyre. And the name of his wife was Avigayil. The woman was of good intelligence and beautiful, but the man was difficult and of evil exploits, and he was a Calebite.

וַיִּשְׁמַע דָּוִד בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּי גֹזֵז נָבָל אֶת צֹאנוֹ

David heard in the wilderness that Naval was shearing his sheep.

וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד עֲשָׂרָה נְעָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לַנְּעָרִים עֲלוּ כַרְמֶלָה וּבָאתֶם אֶל נָבָל וּשְׁאֶלְתֶּם לוֹ בִשְׁמִי לְשָׁלוֹם

David sent ten lads, and David said to the lads: Go up to Carmel; come to Naval, and greet him in my name.

וַאֲמַרְתֶּם כֹּה לֶחָי וְאַתָּה שָׁלוֹם וּבֵיתְךָ שָׁלוֹם וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

So you shall say in greeting him: May it be so next year. May you merit the same good fortune in the coming year. You shall be in peace and no harm should befall you, and your house shall be in peace, and everything that is yours shall be in peace.

וְעַתָּה שָׁמַעְתִּי כִּי גֹזְזִים לָךְ עַתָּה הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לְךָ הָיוּ עִמָּנוּ לֹא הֶכְלַמְנוּם וְלֹא נִפְקַד לָהֶם מְאוּמָה כָּל יְמֵי הֱיוֹתָם בַּכַּרְמֶל

Now, I have heard that they are shearing your sheep for you. Now you should know that your shepherds were with us, under our protection, and we did not humiliate them. We did not oppress them, nor did we refuse their requests for assistance; and nothing was lost to them all the days that they were in Carmel. David’s men functioned like a military unit, and they had the power to do as they pleased. While they remained in the wilderness, they apparently served as a kind of independent police force, with or without the consent of the local inhabitants of the region. They supported themselves by protecting the shepherds and their cattle from any thieves who might attempt to steal sheep, as well as from other plunderers. They might also have been enlisted to help find lost animals. In addition, it was customary for heads of nomadic families to adopt, as it were, nearby farmers on the border of the wilderness, preventing other wanderers and robbers from entering the area in exchange for support from those farmers. Although these were unwritten agreements, they were generally adhered to carefully by both sides.

שְׁאַל אֶת נְעָרֶיךָ וְיַגִּידוּ לָךְ וְיִמְצְאוּ הַנְּעָרִים חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ כִּי עַל יוֹם טוֹב בָּנוּ תְּנָה נָּא אֵת אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדְךָ לַעֲבָדֶיךָ וּלְבִנְךָ לְדָוִד

Ask your lads in Carmel, and they will tell you that my statement is correct. And may the lads of mine find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day, when the sheep are sheared, which was typically celebrated as a festival. On this day, the owner of the flock would generally act generously and be willing to help others. Please, give whatever your means suffice to your servants and to your son, to David, as a token of gratitude for our cooperation. This was a goodwill delegation, which requested that Naval partially sponsor their protection of the local population.

וַיָּבֹאוּ נַעֲרֵי דָוִד וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֶל נָבָל כְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּשֵׁם דָּוִד וַיָּנוּחוּ

David’s lads came and they spoke to Naval in accordance with all these words in the name of David, and they rested from the exertion of the journey after delivering David’s message to Naval. Alternatively, this means that they ceased to speak.

וַיַּעַן נָבָל אֶת עַבְדֵי דָוִד וַיֹּאמֶר מִי דָוִד וּמִי בֶן יִשָׁי הַיּוֹם רַבּוּ עֲבָדִים הַמִּתְפָּרְצִים אִישׁ מִפְּנֵי אֲדֹנָיו

Naval answered David’s servants in a loud voice, and he said: Who is David, and who is the son of Yishai? Today, servants who rebel, each against his master, have proliferated, and David is one of them, as he is rebelling against his lord, Saul.

וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶת לַחְמִי וְאֶת מֵימַי וְאֵת טִבְחָתִי אֲשֶׁר טָבַחְתִּי לְגֹזְזָי וְנָתַתִּי לַאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַעְתִּי אֵי מִזֶּה הֵמָּה

Will I take my bread, my water, and my meat that I slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to foreign men, whom I do not know from where they are? I refuse to give you anything.

וַיַּהַפְכוּ נַעֲרֵי דָוִד לְדַרְכָּם וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּגִּדוּ לוֹ כְּכֹל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה

David’s lads turned back to their way and returned, and they came and told him in accordance with all these words: Naval did not extend a welcome to us, and he gave us nothing. Moreover, he even insulted you personally.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לַאֲנָשָׁיו חִגְרוּ אִישׁ אֶת חַרְבּוֹ וַיַּחְגְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶת חַרְבּוֹ וַיַּחְגֹּר גַּם דָּוִד אֶת חַרְבּוֹ וַיַּעֲלוּ אַחֲרֵי דָוִד כְּאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וּמָאתַיִם יָשְׁבוּ עַל הַכֵּלִים

David said to his men: Let each man gird his sword, for we will punish Naval. Each man girded his sword, and David also girded his sword. They went forth after David, some four hundred men, and two hundred stayed with the baggage, to guard their possessions during the battle, as was customary. There is a similar ratio between fighters and guards in an episode below (30:10, 24).

וְלַאֲבִיגַיִל אֵשֶׁת נָבָל הִגִּיד נַעַר אֶחָד מֵהַנְּעָרִים לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה שָׁלַח דָּוִד מַלְאָכִים מֵהַמִּדְבָּר לְבָרֵךְ אֶת אֲדֹנֵינוּ וַיָּעַט בָּהֶם

One lad from among the lads who lived in the house told Avigayil, Naval’s wife, saying: Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he pounced upon them, insulting them and treating them harshly.

וְהָאֲנָשִׁים טֹבִים לָנוּ מְאֹד וְלֹא הָכְלַמְנוּ וְלֹא פָקַדְנוּ מְאוּמָה כָּל יְמֵי הִתְהַלַּכְנוּ אִתָּם בִּהְיוֹתֵנוּ בַּשָּׂדֶה

But the men were very good to us, and we were not humiliated by them, and we did not lose anything all the days we went with them, when we were in the field.

חוֹמָה הָיוּ עָלֵינוּ גַּם לַיְלָה גַּם יוֹמָם כָּל יְמֵי הֱיוֹתֵנוּ עִמָּם רֹעִים הַצֹּאן

They were like a protective wall around us both night and day, all the days we were with them herding the sheep.

וְעַתָּה דְּעִי וּרְאִי מַה תַּעֲשִׂי כִּי כָלְתָה הָרָעָה אֶל אֲדֹנֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל בֵּיתוֹ וְהוּא בֶּן בְּלִיַּעַל מִדַבֵּר אֵלָיו

Now, know and see what you will do, for harm has been resolved by David against our master and against his entire house. The young man proceeds to explain to Avigayil why he turned to her rather than directly to Naval himself: But he, Naval, is an irresponsible scoundrel with whom one cannot speak of such matters, as he will not listen.

וַתְּמַהֵר אֲבִיגַיִל וַתִּקַּח מָאתַיִם לֶחֶם וּשְׁנַיִם נִבְלֵי יַיִן וְחָמֵשׁ צֹאן עֲשׂוּיֹת וְחָמֵשׁ סְאִים קָלִי וּמֵאָה צִמֻּקִים וּמָאתַיִם דְּבֵלִים וַתָּשֶׂם עַל הַחֲמֹרִים

Avigayil hastened, and she took two hundred loaves of bread, and two jugs of wine, five prepared sheep, either roasted or cooked, and five se’a of roasted grain, and one hundred clusters or packages of raisins, and two hundred cakes of dried figs, and she placed them on the donkeys.

וַתֹּאמֶר לִנְעָרֶיהָ עִבְרוּ לְפָנַי הִנְנִי אַחֲרֵיכֶם בָּאָה וּלְאִישָׁהּ נָבָל לֹא הִגִּידָה

She said to her lads: Go ahead of me; behold, I am following you, but she did not tell her husband Naval of her plans.

וְהָיָה הִיא רֹכֶבֶת עַל הַחֲמוֹר וְיֹרֶדֶת בְּסֵתֶר הָהָר וְהִנֵּה דָוִד וַאֲנָשָׁיו יֹרְדִים לִקְרָאתָהּ וַתִּפְגֹּשׁ אֹתָם

It was that she was riding on the donkey and descending on the hidden slope of the mountain, the slope that was concealed from view, and behold, David and his men were descending toward her from the other side; and she met them.

וְדָוִד אָמַר אַךְ לַשֶּׁקֶר שָׁמַרְתִּי אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָזֶה בַּמִּדְבָּר וְלֹא נִפְקַד מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ מְאוּמָה וַיָּשֶׁב לִי רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה

David had said to himself: Indeed, in vain did I protect everything that was this one’s in the wilderness, and nothing was lost from all that was his, and he repaid me with evil for good.

כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה אֱלֹהִים לְאֹיְבֵי דָוִד וְכֹה יֹסִיף אִם אַשְׁאִיר מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ עַד הַבֹּקֶר מַשְׁתִּין בְּקִיר

So shall God do to the enemies of David, a euphemism, meaning David himself, and so shall He continue, if I leave of all that is his, Naval’s, until morning, any who urinates against the wall. This is a derogatory reference to males. David swore that he would not leave any males of Naval’s family alive. Alternatively, David was saying that he would not leave anything remaining in Naval’s house, not even a dog, an animal that generally urinates against the wall.

וַתֵּרֶא אֲבִיגַיִל אֶת דָּוִד וַתְּמַהֵר וַתֵּרֶד מֵעַל הַחֲמוֹר וַתִּפֹּל לְאַפֵּי דָוִד עַל פָּנֶיהָ וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָרֶץ

Avigayil saw David and she hastened and dismounted from upon the donkey, and she fell on her face before David and prostrated herself to the ground.

וַתִּפֹּל עַל רַגְלָיו וַתֹּאמֶר בִּי אֲנִי אֲדֹנִי הֶעָוֹן וּתְדַבֶּר נָא אֲמָתְךָ בְּאָזְנֶיךָ וּשְׁמַע אֵת דִּבְרֵי אֲמָתֶךָ

She fell at his feet, and she said: The iniquity is with me, my lord; I am the guilty one. But please, let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.

אַל נָא יָשִׂים אֲדֹנִי אֶת לִבּוֹ אֶל אִישׁ הַבְּלִיַּעַל הַזֶּה עַל נָבָל כִּי כִשְׁמוֹ כֶּן הוּא נָבָל שְׁמוֹ וּנְבָלָה עִמּוֹ וַאֲנִי אֲמָתְךָ לֹא רָאִיתִי אֶת נַעֲרֵי אֲדֹנִי אֲשֶׁר שָׁלָחְתָּ

Please, let my lord not pay attention to this scoundrel, to Naval, for as is his name, so is he: Naval, meaning knave, is his name, and depravity [nevala] is with him, and I, your maidservant, did not see my lord’s lads, whom you sent. Had I encountered them, I would have taken care of the issue myself.

וְעַתָּה אֲדֹנִי חַי ה' וְחֵי נַפְשְׁךָ אֲשֶׁר מְנָעֲךָ ה' מִבּוֹא בְדָמִים והוֹשֵׁעַ יָדְךָ לָךְ וְעַתָּה יִהְיוּ כְנָבָל אֹיְבֶיךָ וְהַמְבַקְשִׁים אֶל אֲדֹנִי רָעָה

Now, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, for the Lord has prevented you from coming to bloodshed. I am certain that God arranged matters so that I could stop you from attacking Naval and his household, and thereby prevent you from avenging yourself by taking the law into your own hand and acting with force. Now, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Naval, and receive a similar punishment to the fate that awaits him.

וְעַתָּה הַבְּרָכָה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיא שִׁפְחָתְךָ לַאדֹנִי וְנִתְּנָה לַנְּעָרִים הַמִּתְהַלְּכִים בְּרַגְלֵי אֲדֹנִי

Now, this tribute that your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the lads that follow after my lord.

שָׂא נָא לְפֶשַׁע אֲמָתֶךָ כִּי עָשֹׂה יַעֲשֶׂה ה' לַאדֹנִי בַּיִת נֶאֱמָן כִּי מִלְחֲמוֹת ה' אֲדֹנִי נִלְחָם וְרָעָה לֹא תִמָּצֵא בְךָ מִיָּמֶיךָ

Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant. Once again Avigayil accepts the responsibility for not responding properly to David’s request. For the Lord will establish for my lord an enduring house, an enduring kingdom, for my lord fights the wars of the Lord, and evil has not been found in you in your days.

וַיָּקָם אָדָם לִרְדָפְךָ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ וְהָיְתָה נֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנִי צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֵת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְאֵת נֶפֶשׁ אֹיְבֶיךָ יְקַלְּעֶנָּה בְּתוֹךְ כַּף הַקָּלַע

A person rose to pursue you, and to seek your life, a reference to Saul, whom she refrains from mentioning by name, either out of respect for the king or as an insult to him. May the soul of my lord be bound in the bond of life with the Lord your God. May you remain alive. Alternatively, this expression is referring to the World to Come: After your life, your soul will be kept with God, alongside all of the other righteous souls. And the souls of your enemies, may He cast away from before God, as from the pocket of a slingshot. In mystical works, this formula of a curse is the basis for lengthy, detailed explanations of what occurs to the soul following death when it enters the World to Come.

וְהָיָה כִּי יַעֲשֶׂה ה' לַאדֹנִי כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֶת הַטּוֹבָה עָלֶיךָ וְצִוְּךָ לְנָגִיד עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל

Evidently, David was a well-known figure, and reports of his anointment had already reached the populace: It shall be when the Lord has performed for my lord in accordance with all the good that He spoke in your regard, and He has appointed you ruler, king, over Israel,

וְלֹא תִהְיֶה זֹאת לְךָ לְפוּקָה וּלְמִכְשׁוֹל לֵב לַאדֹנִי וְלִשְׁפָּךְ דָּם חִנָּם וּלְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֲדֹנִי לוֹ וְהֵיטִב ה' לַאדֹנִי וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת אֲמָתֶךָ

let this proposed act, the killing of Naval, not be a stumbling block for you or a moral obstacle that will bring remorse for my lord to have shed blood for naught, for my lord to have avenged himself. When you become king, this action will not provide you with any peace of mind or honor. Any blood that you have spilled until now was in justified battles. Why would you blemish your pure soul with the blood of one who is not pursuing you? Avigayil concluded: When the Lord performs good for my lord, and you have ascended to greatness, you shall remember your maidservant and my statements.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לַאֲבִיגַל בָּרוּךְ ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר שְׁלָחֵךְ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לִקְרָאתִי

David said to Avigayil: Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, who sent you toward me this day.

וּבָרוּךְ טַעְמֵךְ וּבְרוּכָה אָתְּ אֲשֶׁר כְּלִתִנִי הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה מִבּוֹא בְדָמִים וְהֹשֵׁעַ יָדִי לִי

And blessed is your counsel, your intelligent opinion, and blessed are you, as you restrained me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself by my hand.

וְאוּלָם חַי ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר מְנָעַנִי מֵהָרַע אֹתָךְ כִּי לוּלֵי מִהַרְתְּ וַתָּבֹאת לִקְרָאתִי כִּי אִם נוֹתַר לְנָבָל עַד אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר מַשְׁתִּין בְּקִיר

Indeed, as the Lord, God of Israel, who prevented me from harming you, lives, for had you not hastened and come toward me, there surely would not have been left for Naval, by the light of morning, any who urinates against the wall. Had you not arrived and spoken as you did, your entire household would have suffered a terrible fate.

וַיִּקַּח דָּוִד מִיָּדָהּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיאָה לוֹ וְלָהּ אָמַר עֲלִי לְשָׁלוֹם לְבֵיתֵךְ רְאִי שָׁמַעְתִּי בְקוֹלֵךְ וָאֶשָּׂא פָּנָיִךְ

David took that which she had brought to him from her hand, and he said to her: Go up to your house in peace; see, I have heeded your voice and have favored you. Thanks to your intervention, I will not kill Naval.

וַתָּבֹא אֲבִיגַיִל אֶל נָבָל וְהִנֵּה לוֹ מִשְׁתֶּה בְּבֵיתוֹ כְּמִשְׁתֵּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְלֵב נָבָל טוֹב עָלָיו וְהוּא שִׁכֹּר עַד מְאֹד ולֹא הִגִּידָה לּוֹ דָּבָר קָטֹן וְגָדוֹל עַד אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר

Avigayil came to Naval, and behold, there was a feast for him in his house like the feast of a king, a large celebration marking the end of the day of shearing. Naval’s heart was glad within him, and he was very drunk, and she did not tell him anything, small or great, until the light of morning.

וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר בְּצֵאת הַיַּיִן מִנָּבָל וַתַּגֶּד לוֹ אִשְׁתּוֹ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיָּמָת לִבּוֹ בְּקִרְבּוֹ וְהוּא הָיָה לְאָבֶן

It was in the morning, when the wine left Naval, his wife told him these matters, that David had planned to come with his men and bring him to justice for his actions, and his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. He was so overcome with terror that he could not speak. Naval suddenly realized the danger to which he had been exposed, as he was certainly incapable of defending himself from David and his men.

וַיְהִי כַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַיָּמִים וַיִּגֹּף ה' אֶת נָבָל וַיָּמֹת

It was after approximately ten days since his heart had died within him, the Lord struck Naval, and he died.

וַיִּשְׁמַע דָּוִד כִּי מֵת נָבָל וַיֹּאמֶר בָּרוּךְ ה' אֲשֶׁר רָב אֶת רִיב חֶרְפָּתִי מִיַּד נָבָל וְאֶת עַבְדּוֹ חָשַׂךְ מֵרָעָה וְאֵת רָעַת נָבָל הֵשִׁיב ה' בְּרֹאשׁוֹ

David heard that Naval had died, and he said: Blessed is the Lord, who contended the cause of my disgrace from the hand of Naval and avenged my dishonor, and withheld His servant from evil, and the Lord returned the evil of Naval upon his head. Some time later, David sent messengers and spoke concerning Avigayil, to take her for him as a wife. Avigayil had made a strong impression upon him, and he realized that she was a very intelligent woman. Her insightful comments displayed a high level of understanding and sensitivity to others.

וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד וַיְדַבֵּר בַּאֲבִיגַיִל לְקַחְתָּהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַיָּבֹאוּ עַבְדֵי דָוִד אֶל אֲבִיגַיִל הַכַּרְמֶלָה וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֵלֶיהָ לֵאמֹר דָּוִד שְׁלָחָנוּ אֵלַיִךְ לְקַחְתֵּךְ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה

David’s servants came to Avigayil, to Carmel, and they spoke to her, saying: David sent us to you, to take you for him as a wife.

וַתָּקָם וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ אַפַּיִם אָרְצָה וַתֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה אֲמָתְךָ לְשִׁפְחָה לִרְחֹץ רַגְלֵי עַבְדֵי אֲדֹנִי

She rose, and she prostrated herself with her face to the ground, and she said, as though directly addressing David, represented by his messengers: Here is your handmaiden as a maidservant to wash the feet of my lord’s servants. I was prepared to be your handmaid and wash your feet, as it were, and therefore I will certainly agree to marry you.

וַתְּמַהֵר וַתָּקָם אֲבִיגַיִל וַתִּרְכַּב עַל הַחֲמוֹר וְחָמֵשׁ נַעֲרֹתֶיהָ הַהֹלְכוֹת לְרַגְלָהּ וַתֵּלֶךְ אַחֲרֵי מַלְאֲכֵי דָוִד וַתְּהִי לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה

Avigayil hastened, for the third time in this passage, and she rose, and she rode upon the donkey with her five maidens who followed after and accompanied her, as she was the widow of a wealthy man; and she followed David’s messengers, and she became a wife to him.

וְאֶת אֲחִינֹעַם לָקַח דָּוִד מִיִּזְרְעֶאל וַתִּהְיֶיןָ גַּם שְׁתֵּיהֶן לוֹ לְנָשִׁים

And Ahino’am, David took from Yizre’el, another village in Judah; and both of them, Avigayil and Ahino’am, became wives to him.

וְשָׁאוּל נָתַן אֶת מִיכַל בִּתּוֹ אֵשֶׁת דָּוִד לְפַלְטִי בֶן לַיִשׁ אֲשֶׁר מִגַּלִּים

But meanwhile, Saul had given Mikhal his daughter, David’s wife, to another man, Palti son of Layish, who was from Galim. This is possibly Bat Galim, which was near Anatot and Jerusalem, in the inheritance of Benjamin.