1. Samuel died, and people from all over Israel gathered to mourn for him when he was buried at his home in Ramah. Meanwhile, David moved his camp to Paran Desert.
2-3. Nabal was a very rich man who lived in Maon. He owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, which he kept at Carmel. His wife Abigail was sensible and beautiful, but he was from the Caleb clan and was rough and mean.
4. One day, Nabal was in Carmel, while his servants cut the wool from his sheep. David was in the desert when he heard about it.
5-6. So he sent ten men to Carmel with this message for Nabal:I hope that you and your family are healthy and that all is going well for you.