usness, nor
because they were in want, nor because they were in the wilderness, and
so could not easily be discovered, but to esteem freedom from injustice
above all other motives, and to look upon the touching of what belonged
to another man as a horrible crime, and contrary to the will of God.
These were the instructions he gave, thinking that the favors he granted
this man were granted to a good man, and one that deserved to have such
care taken of his affairs. This man was Nabal, for that was his name,--a
harsh man, and of a very wicked life, being like a cynic in the course
of his behavior, but still had obtained for his wife a woman of a good
character, wise and handsome. To this Nabal, therefore, David sent ten
men of his attendants at the time when he sheared his sheep, and by them
saluted him; and also wished he might do what he now did for many years
to come, but desired him to make him a present of what he was able to
give him, since he had, to be sure, learned from his shepherds that
we had done them no injury, but had been their guardians a long time
together, while we continued in the wilderness; and he assured him he
should never repent of giving any thing to David. When the messengers
had carried this message to Nabal, he accosted them after an inhuman and
rough manner; for he asked them who David was? and when he heard that
he was the son of Jesse, he said, "Now is the time that fugitives grow
insolent, and make a figure, and leave their masters." When they told
David this, he was wroth, and commanded four hundred armed men to follow
him, and left two hundred to take care of the stuff, [for he had already
six hundred, [24]] and went against Nabal: he also swore that he would
that night utterly destroy the whole house and possessions of Nabal;
for that he was grieved, not only that he had proved ungrateful to them,
without making any return for the humanity they had shown him, but that
he had also reproached them, and used ill language to them, when he had
received no cause of disgust from them.

7. Hereupon one of those that kept the flocks of Nabal, said to his
mistress, Nabal's wife, that when David sent to her husband he had
received no civil answer at all from him; but that her husband had
moreover added very reproachful language, while yet David had taken
extraordinary care to keep his flocks from harm, and that what had
passed would prove very pernicious to his master. When the servant had
said th