PERSPECTIVES ON I SAMUEL 25

First, we should note how God orders historical events and the way they are narrated in the Bible in a very orderly manner.
                                                   Figure 1: The Structure of I Samuel 25  
Introduction (1)

    A. David sends messengers to Nabal (2-8)
        B. Nabal refuses him (9-11)

            C. David vows to kill Nabal (12-13)
                D. Abigail learns of events and acts (14-20)
            C'. David vows to kill Nabal (21-22)

                    E. Abigail's speech (23-31)
                        1. Let the guilt be on me (23-25)
                            2. Blessing and prophecy (26-31a)
                        1'. Remember me (31b)

            C''. David repents of his anger toward Nabal (32-35)
                D'. Abigail tells Nabal of events (36-37a)
            C''''. Nabal dies, but not by David's hand (37b)

    A'. David sends messengers to Abigail (39-40)
        B'. Abigail accepts him (41-42)

Conclusion (43-44)

The highlighted passage within this chapter is thus seen to be found at I Samuel 25:26-31a. But that central passage itself possesses its own internal symmetry:

                                             Figure 2: The Structure of I Samuel 25:26-31a

    1. God has kept David from unnecessary bloodshed (26a)

        2. A curse is pronounced on David's enemies (26b)
            3. She asks for forgiveness for Nabal (27-28a)
                4. Prophecy of David's future kingship (28b)

        2'. God will protect David from his enemies (29)
            3'. God will deal with Nabal (30a)
                4'. Prophecy of David's future kingship (30b)

    1. David has not shed blood without cause (31a)

McKenzie says regarding verses 30-31, “Abigail points out that shedding innocent blood would be an obstacle to David's kingship.” The structure of Figure 2 confirms that observation in that it contains two points of natural emphasis, 1 and 1' regarding David sparing Nabal's life as well as the conclusion of the two parallel cycles at 4 and 4' in which the prophecy of David's rise to power is made.

However, McKenzie is off-base in suggesting elsewhere that verse 26, hinting at Nabal's upcoming death “may be out of place.” That sort of comment betrays a basic lack of belief in predictive prophecy. And Abigail not only belongs in the ranks of other OT prophets, but also is a prime example of the other “wise women” who appear in the Bible.

Abigail says in the remainder of verse 31 directly after the speech in Figure 2: “And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.” as McKenzie notes, there is some ambiguity as to the identity of the “lord” to whom Abigail is alluding. Is it her husband Nabal, in which case she is predicting his death, which will soon after take place, presumably at God's hand? Or is she talking about some future time after God has established David as king? In either case, it is obvious that she is actually making David a sort of marriage proposal just as Ruth had earlier been the initiating party in getting David's ancestor Boaz to marry her. 

And we learn at the end of the chapter that David will take her up on her offer after Nabal had died of “natural causes.” It is the final verses in I Samuel 25 that I chose to illustrate in the collage below

                            I Samuel 25 (1992, 3-1/2'' x 5'')