Abigail

Two women are named Abigail in these verses. The first is the wife David took after Nabal’s death. She is called “Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife,” and went with David to live among the Philistines at Gath, and she bore him a son, Chileab. The other was David’s sister. She bore Amasa to Jether the Ishmeelite, and Amasa later became captain of Absalom’s army. Chronicles notes that she and Zeruiah were sisters, and that Zeruiah’s sons were Abishai, Joab and Asahel. The famous account of how Abigail met David is told in 1 Samuel 25, which is where to read her story in full.

5 verses

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 27:3

And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 3:3

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

2 Samuel 17:25

And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 2:16

Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.

1 Chronicles 2:17

And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Father (i.e., “leader”) of the dance, or “of joy.” (1.) The sister of David, and wife of Jether an Ishmaelite (1 Chr. 2:16,17). She was the mother of Amasa (2 Sam. 17:25).

(2.) The wife of the churlish Nabal, who dwelt in the district of Carmel (1 Sam. 25:3). She showed great prudence and delicate management at a critical period of her husband’s life. She was “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” After Nabal’s death she became the wife of David (1 Sam. 25:14-42), and was his companion in all his future fortunes (1 Sam. 27:3; 30:5; 2 Sam. 2:2). By her David had a son called Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3), elsewhere called Daniel (1 Chr. 3:1).

Read the full entry

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(father, i.e. source, of joy).

(1.) The beautiful wife of Nabal, a wealthy owner of goats and sheep in Carmel. (B.C. 1060.) When David’s messengers were slighted by Nabal, Abigail supplies David and his followers with provisions, and succeeded in appeasing his anger. The days after this Nabal died, and David sent for Abigail and made her his wife. (1 Samuel 25:14) etc. By her he had a son, called Chileab in (2 Samuel 3:3) but Daniel in (1 Chronicles 3:1)

(2.) A sister of David, married to Jether the Ishmaelite , and mother, by him , of Amasa. (1 Chronicles 2:17) In (2 Samuel 17:25) for Israelite read Ishmaelite. (B.C. 1068.)