2. A certain man in Maon was very wealthy. He owned property there at Carmel. He had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep. He was clipping the wool off the sheep in Carmel.
3. His name was Nabal. His wife's name was Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But her husband was rude and mean in the way he treated others. He was from the family of Caleb.
4. David was staying in the Desert of Maon. While he was there, he heard that Nabal was clipping the wool off his sheep.
5. So he sent for ten young men. He said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him for me.
6. Say to him, 'May you live a long time! May everything go well with you and your family! And may things go well with everything that belongs to you!
7. " 'I hear that you are clipping the wool off your sheep. When your shepherds were with us, we treated them well. The whole time they were at Carmel nothing that belonged to them was stolen.
8. Ask your own servants. They'll tell you. We've come to you now at a happy time of the year. Please show favor to my young men. Please give me and my men anything you can find for us.' "
9. When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal the message from David. Then they waited.
10. Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are running away from their masters these days.
11. Why should I give away my bread and water? Why should I give away the meat I've prepared for those who clip the wool off my sheep? Why should I give food to men who come from who knows where?"
12. So David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported to David every word Nabal had spoken.
13. David said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So they put their swords on. David put his on too. About 400 men went up with David. Two hundred men stayed behind with the supplies.
14. One of the servants warned Nabal's wife Abigail. He said, "David sent some messengers from the desert to give his greetings to our master. But Nabal shouted at them and made fun of them.
15. "David's men had been very good to us. They treated us well. The whole time we were near them out in the fields, nothing was stolen.