“I swear that by morning, there won’t be a man or boy left from his family or his servants’ families. I pray that God will punish me if I don’t do it!” (1 Samuel 25:22 CEV)

What terrible thing did Nabal do to enrage David so that he’d slaughter his family? Did he destroy a town, enslave a nation, or poison a well? No, he insulted David. Fortunately, Nabal’s wife Abigail buys off David with food and drink.

When Abigail tells Nabal what she did, he has a heart attack and dies ten days later. When David hears, he offers to marry the grieving widow. She becomes his (second) wife.

Later, Saul tries to kill David again, and David again has the opportunity, but doesn’t kill him. Again.

The David leaves Israel, and is given a town. But he’s still working undercover for Israel.

Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish. He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. (1 Samuel 27:9, 11 NIV)

This is the good King?

Next: 1 Samuel 28-31