1. Samuel died, and all Israel gathered to mourn him; they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2. There was a man of Maon who had property in Carmel; he was very wealthy, owning three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At the time, he was present for the shearing of his flock in Carmel.
3. The man’s name was Nabal and his wife was Abigail. The woman was intelligent and attractive, but Nabal, a Calebite, was harsh and bad-mannered.
4. While in the wilderness, David heard that Nabal was shearing his flock,
5. so he sent ten young men, instructing them: “Go up to Carmel. Pay Nabal a visit and greet him in my name.
6. Say to him, ‘Peace be with you, my brother, and with your family, and with all who belong to you.
7. I have just heard that shearers are with you. Now, when your shepherds were with us, we did them no injury, neither did they miss anything while they were in Carmel.
8. Ask your servants and they will tell you. Look kindly on these young men, since we come at a festival time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can.’”
9. When David’s young men arrived, they delivered the entire message to Nabal in David’s name, and then waited.