The Story Of Abigail Trivia Quiz

Answer: The death of Samuel

"And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran." (1 Samuel 25:1).

Samuel was a powerful stabilizing factor in the chaotic relationship between Saul and David. His death must have been a red warning sign for David. Indeed, Saul's obsessive pursuit of David resumes in the next chapter (1 Samuel 26).

But, let's stay at chapter 25, and draw closer to Abigail's story.

David flees southwards to the Paran desert (a few tens of kilometers south of En-gedi). In 1 Samuel 25:2 the plot resumes at Maon and Carmel which are assumed to be located at the southern rim of the Judea desert at the eastern back of the Hebron ridge (15km southwest of En-gedi). Nowadays Maon and Carmel are settlements in the same location, and En-gedi is a kibbutz at the shore of the Dead Sea. Carmel should not to be confused with the Carmel area in northern Israel (Mt. Carmel overlooking Haifa).

Answer: Villain

Hebrew words stemming from the root N.B.L are usually of negative connotation: "naval" (noun) is "villain", "naval" (verb) is "withered", "nibel" (verb) is "talked obscenely", "nevel" (noun) is "wine vessel" (used later in this chapter) and also "harp", "nevela" is "carcass".

And, to remove any doubts as to Nabal's character it is explicitly mentioned later in this verse that he was "churlish and evil in his doings".

Later in the chapter Abigail uses this word game, in her speech to David.

Answer: Smart and beautiful

"and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance" (1 Samuel 25:3).

There are more than a few smart, or even wise, women told of in the Bible, but none of them is also described as beautiful with such clear words.

Answer: He leads his men to kill Nabal

Nabal uses an extremely humiliating tone when rejecting the plea cast by David's young men. He mocks David, depicting him as a servant escaping from his master (Saul): "there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master" (1 Samuel 25:10).

When he hears this, David instantly orders "Gird ye on every man his sword" (1 Samuel 25:13) and sets off with his men to revenge Nabal.

After the climax at En-gedi and the promise of kingship, David is back on the run seemingly reverting to his hot-tempered self, looking like a gang leader than a future king. So, who is David? Time to let a smart and beautiful woman help him, and us, understand.

Answer: False

The script leaves no room for doubt as to Abigail's immediate understanding of the state of affairs, independence of thought and extreme sense of urgency in trying to rectify the situation inflicted upon her by the two hot-headed men.

She sets off to an emergency diplomatic mission, "But she told not her husband Nabal" (1 Samuel 25:19). She does carry a generous offering to the encounter.

And, as if to prove us how correct and sharp Abigail is, when Abigail meets David he reiterates his intention of wiping out Nabal, along with his clan, by the light of day.

Answer: Offers herself to David

Abigail's speech (1 Samuel 25:23-31) is a superb rhetorical show of strength.

Abigail diminishes herself by calling herself "handmaid" (6 times) and by calling David "my lord" (14 times). She hints to David's victory over Goliath by using the word "sling" twice (verse 29). She detaches herself from her husband by criticizing him ("for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him", verse 25 - see also Q1). She also makes it clear that she wasn't aware of David's request and Nabal's rejection. She keeps detaching David from the heat of the moment by prophesizing him a great future as Israel's king, and promises him that God will take care of his enemies. At no stage is she required to lose her dignity to the point of offering herself to David.

Answer: False

On the contrary, David's acceptance of Abigail's speech is utter and immediate. It is made clear that her arguments are well-understood by him and convince him instantly, e.g. "And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand" (1 Samuel 25:33). Thus, David shows the trait of a great and mature leader - he recognizes a good advice, and implements it. Abigail's diplomatic skills bring sense back unto David.

This is an important moment which also prepares us for the next chapter where David spares Saul's life yet again, at the hill of Hachilah.

Answer: He suffers from a heart attack and dies after 10 days

Thus, one of Abigail's promises to David is fulfilled ("and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he [God] sling out, as out of the middle of a sling", 1 Samuel 25:29).

The point of the fulfillment of Abigail's prophecy is made clear: "And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died" (1 Samuel 25:39).

We can see again that this chapter is exceptional in the sense that the script is very explicit and includes commentary and interpretation. David being such a key figure, and the (problematic) nature of (the newly instated) monarchy being such a key issue - to convey this important message a rare method is used.

Answer: A son named Cileab or Daniel

In 2 Samuel 3:3 their son is mentioned by the name Cileab.
In 1 Chronicles 3:1 their son in mentioned by the name Daniel.
The source of this discrepancy is not clear.

Abigail is mentioned again only in the story of Ziklag (1 Samuel 30) where she is taken captive by the Amalekites, and later freed by David in hot pursuit. This is another story on the positive aspects of David's personality.

Abigail's story is also a reference to another story, where David's negative aspects are at their peak. This, of course, is the story of Bathsheba, a wife taken by David after impregnating her and actively arranging Uriah's (her husband's) death in combat (2 Samuel 11).

Answer: All are correct

In the Babylonian Talmud (aka the Gemara), the Talmudic Sages include Abigail as one of 7 prophetesses along with Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hanna, Hulda and Esther. They also include Abigail as one of 4 most beautiful women along with Sarah, Rahab and Esther.

In the "Treasure of Midrashim" collected by J.D. Eisenstein (1915) Abigail is counted among 23 righteous women.

In Hebrew, the name is Avigail (pronounced a-vi-ga-il). It is commonly assumed that it is a juxtaposition of the words "av" ("father") and "iagil" ("shall rejoice").

I hope that after taking this quiz you don't wonder why I rejoiced in giving our first daughter this wonderful name.

Thanks and cheers!