2. There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. This man was very wealthy; he owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3. The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.
4. When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
5. he sent ten servants, saying to them, “Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name.
6. Then you will say to my brother, “Peace to you and your house! Peace to all that is yours!
7. Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel.
8. Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. Please provide us – your servants and your son David – with whatever you can spare.”
9. So David’s servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in David’s name. Then they paused.
10. But Nabal responded to David’s servants, “Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters!
11. Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t even know where they came from!”