1 Samuel 25:2-11

2Now there was a man in Maon whose business and possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel

3(now the man’s name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings; he was a Calebite).

4David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.

5So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name;

6and this is what you shall say, ‘Have a long life! Peace be to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have.

7Now I have heard that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us and we have not harmed them, nor were they missing anything all the time they were in Carmel.

8Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your sight [and be well-treated], for we have come on a good (festive) day. Please, give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ”

9When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David; then they waited.

10But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today, each of whom is breaking away from his master.

11So should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”