ABIGAIL (Heb. ab-ee-gah'yd, father of joy, 1. e., exultation), contracted Abigal in 2 Sam. xvii 1. The wife of a prosperous sheepmaster, called Nabal, who dwelt in the district of Carmel, west of the Dead Sea (t Sam. xxv:3; xxvii:3; B. C. woo). She is known chiefly for her beauty and the promptitude and discretion of her conduct in tak ingmeasurestoavert the wrath of David which. as she justly apprehended, had been violently exc,ted by the insulting treatment which his messengers had received from her husband. (See NADAL.) She hastily prepared a liberal supply of provisions. of which David's troops stood in much need, and went forth to meet him, attended by only one servant. When they met, he was marching to ex terminate Nabal and all that belonged to him; and not only was his rage mollified by her prudent remonstrances and delicate management, but he became sensible that the vengeance which he had purposed was not warranted by the circumstances, and was thankful that he had been prevented from shedding innocent blood. The beauty and pru
dence of Abigail made such an impression upon David on this occasion, that when, not Tong after, he heard of Nabal's death, he sent for her, and she became his wife (t Sam. xxv :14-42). She ac companied him in all his future fortunes (I Sam. XXVII :3; XXX :5 ; 2 Sam. ii :2). (See DAVID.) By her it is usually stated that he had two sons, Chileab and Daniel; but it is more likely that the Chileab of 2 Sam. iii :3 is the same as the Daniel oft Chron. iii :1; the son of Abigail being known by both these names.
2. The daughter of Nahash (Jesse?), sister of David, wife of Jether, or Ithra, an Ishmaelite, and mother of Amasa (t Chron. t7; 2 Sam. xvii :25), B. C. wo8.