Abigail was an intelligent and beautiful Israelite woman in the Hebrew Bible, first married to the wealthy Nabal, who later became the third wife of the future King David (1 Samuel 25). When Nabal foolishly angered David, who was seeking violent revenge, Abigail courageously intervened with gifts and a prophetic speech, preventing bloodshed and reminding David of his destined kingship.
After Nabal's subsequent death, attributed by the Bible to divine intervention, David married her, recognizing her wisdom and discerning character. She later gave birth to David's son, Chileab, also known as Daniel, in Hebron. Considered one of the Tanakh's seven female prophets in Jewish tradition, Abigail is celebrated for her unwavering faith and is often contrasted with David's later moral challenges in the Bathsheba narrative. Her name, meaning "my father's joy," reflects her significant role, and historically, "Abigail" even became a generic term for a waiting-woman due to her self-styling as a handmaid.