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Abigail: A Novel (The Wives of King David)
by Jill Eileen Smith - I'm sure I'm not the only one that has thought about King David being known as a "man after God's heart" and yet wondering why he disobeyed God's command to not take many wives. Of course polygamy was not unusual in middle eastern cultures of that time, and it was considered quite normal for a king or prince to have many wives because they were able to forge political alliances that way. And yet... what might it have been like for the wives? Jill Eileen Smith has tackled the subject with a series of novels on the wives of King David, and lends some insight and possibilities for what may have gone on in David's palace.
Smith's novelization of Abigail's story is firmly based on the few things we do know about her - she was intelligent and beautiful, and married to a selfish fool of a man named Nabal. David was living on the run from King Saul, and when he came to request provisions for his men, Nabal insulted them and refused. Abigail's timely and wise intervention turned David's anger aside, because he would have killed all the men belonging to Nabal. Soon afterwards, God struck Nabal dead, and David claimed Abigail as his wife. He already had one wife, and was still determined to get his first wife Michal back as well.
Smith tells a plausible and compelling story, creating a scenario for how beautiful Abigail came to be married to the mean-spirited Nabal; and a bittersweet life story for Abigail and her relationship with David, and with his other wives. Abigail's story is not all sunshine and roses, but she had a happier ending than Michal's. I'm looking forward to reading Smith's take on Bathsheba next.
By the same author: The Crimson Cord, Michal; Sarai: A Novel
by Jill Eileen Smith - I'm sure I'm not the only one that has thought about King David being known as a "man after God's heart" and yet wondering why he disobeyed God's command to not take many wives. Of course polygamy was not unusual in middle eastern cultures of that time, and it was considered quite normal for a king or prince to have many wives because they were able to forge political alliances that way. And yet... what might it have been like for the wives? Jill Eileen Smith has tackled the subject with a series of novels on the wives of King David, and lends some insight and possibilities for what may have gone on in David's palace.Smith's novelization of Abigail's story is firmly based on the few things we do know about her - she was intelligent and beautiful, and married to a selfish fool of a man named Nabal. David was living on the run from King Saul, and when he came to request provisions for his men, Nabal insulted them and refused. Abigail's timely and wise intervention turned David's anger aside, because he would have killed all the men belonging to Nabal. Soon afterwards, God struck Nabal dead, and David claimed Abigail as his wife. He already had one wife, and was still determined to get his first wife Michal back as well.
Smith tells a plausible and compelling story, creating a scenario for how beautiful Abigail came to be married to the mean-spirited Nabal; and a bittersweet life story for Abigail and her relationship with David, and with his other wives. Abigail's story is not all sunshine and roses, but she had a happier ending than Michal's. I'm looking forward to reading Smith's take on Bathsheba next.
By the same author: The Crimson Cord, Michal; Sarai: A Novel
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