Abigail is one of the most admirable women in the Old Testament. Her husband Nabal was "harsh and evil in his doings" (1 Samuel 25:3); his name means "fool" and he lived up to it. When David's men had protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks, David sent ten young men to ask a customary gift in return. Nabal insulted them and sent them away empty-handed. David responded with fury, strapped on his sword, and set out with 400 men to wipe out Nabal's entire household. Abigail heard what her husband had done. Without consulting him, she immediately loaded up hundreds of loaves, skins of wine, dressed sheep, grain, and fig cakes on donkeys and rode out to meet David. When she saw him, she fell at his feet and made one of the most beautifully diplomatic speeches in all of Scripture. She absorbed responsibility, appealed to David's higher identity as the LORD's anointed, and warned him against the grief of taking vengeance with his own hand. David heard her and repented: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice" (1 Samuel 25:32-33). Ten days later, God struck Nabal and he died. David sent for Abigail and married her. Abigail is the biblical model of the wise woman who saves the day: quick thinking, moral courage, skillful speech, intervention between a fool and a future king.