1 Then Samuel died, and all of Israel gathered together, and they mourned him. And they buried him at his house in Ramah. And David, rising up, descended to the desert of Paran.
2 Now there was a certain man in the wilderness of Maon, and his possessions were at Carmel. And this man was exceedingly great. And three thousand sheep, and one thousand goats were his. And it happened that he was shearing his sheep at Carmel.
3 Now the name of this man was Nabal. And the name of his wife was Abigail. And she was a very prudent and beautiful woman. But her husband was hard-hearted, and very wicked, and malicious. And he was of the stock of Caleb.
4 Therefore, when David, in the desert, had heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
5 he sent ten young men, and he said to them: "Ascend to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name peacefully.
6 And you shall say: 'Peace be to my brothers and to you, and peace to your house, and peace to whatever you have.