3. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail. This woman was intelligent and had a beautiful face; but the man was surly and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.
4. David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
5. David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.
6. Tell him, ‘Long life to you! Peace be to you! Peace be to your house! Peace be to all that you have!
7. Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds have now been with us, and we didn’t harm them. Nothing was missing from them all the time they were in Carmel.
8. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let the young men find favor in your eyes; for we come on a good day. Please give whatever comes to your hand, to your servants, and to your son David.’”
9. When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal all those words in the name of David, and waited.
10. Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.
11. Shall I then take my bread, my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who I don’t know where they come from?”
12. So David’s young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and told him all these words.
13. David said to his men, “Every man put on his sword!”Every man put on his sword. David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David, and two hundred stayed by the baggage.
14. But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to Greet our master; and he insulted them.