Da'vid seems to have realized that Saul's more friendly attitude would be short-lived, and that it was not safe for him to dismiss his followers and return to normal life again. He therefore removed to the wilderness of Pa'ran, which was an extended tract of country along the southern border of Ca'naan adjoining the Si'na-it'ic desert. There were two reasons which probably led him to choose this outlying district. One was the recent death of Sam'u-el, whose influence in Is'ra-el had done much to support the cause of Da'vid; the other, because it was becoming difficult to provide for his six hundred followers in the wilderness of Ju'dah.
Living not far from the place where Da'vid had taken his new refuge was a wealthy man by the name of Na'bal. He owned large herds of sheep and goats, and employed many shepherds. Da'vid and his men had given aid to these shepherds in protecting their flocks from the roving tribes of the desert, and for this reason felt justified in calling upon Na'bal when they were greatly in need of food.
Da'vid sent ten of his most courteous men to Car'mel, which was the home of Na'bal, with instructions to greet him in the name of the LORD, tell him of their friendly aid to the shepherds, and to explain the dire need of Da'vid's men for food. They were to ask Na'bal to send any food which he might spare from the feast which had been prepared for his shepherds and sheep-shearers, or from that which had been provided for the festivities of the seasons. All the circumstances justified Da'vid in making this request, and he had every reason to expect a generous response.
Da'vid was soon to be disappointed, however, for Na'bal had the heart of a miser, taking no thought for those who were less fortunate than himself. He had been blessed by the LORD with an abundance of earthly goods, but instead of thinking of what he owed to the LORD and all around him who were in need, he used his wealth only for his own enjoyment. He spoke of his possessions as "my bread, my meat, my water, and my shearers." He was also most ungrateful, for had Da'vid's men not protected his flocks both day and night, he would have had fewer sheep to shear and less wealth of which to boast.
Na'bal heard the request of Da'vid's men without the slightest feeling of obligation or generosity. He denied the request, speaking of Da'vid as a run-away slave who was in need because of misconduct.
When Da'vid's men reported Na'bal's unfriendliness and insults, their leader became very angry. He ordered four hundred of his men to gird on their swords and follow him, planning to swoop down upon Na'bal's farm with vengeance and deadly destruction. He was wrong in allowing his temper to rule for the moment, but Divine Providence kept him from carrying out his intentions against Na'bal and his household.
Na'bal's wife, whose name was Ab'i-gail, was an intelligent, kindly and deeply religious woman. She knew of Da'vid's excellent character and of his exile under the persecutions of Saul, and had been informed of the kindness of Da'vid's men to Na'bal's shepherds when they were in peril from bandits while out in the desert. When she learnt of her husband's boorish treatment of Da'vid's young men in refusing their request, she felt that Da'vid would be justified in causing trouble for Na'bal. She decided to take steps at once to save her husband from possible slaughter, and to prevent Da'vid from any rash deeds.
