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Abigail (The Wives of King David #2)

by Jill Eileen Smith (Goodreads Author)

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 483 ratings · 66 reviews

Abigail's hopes and dreams for the future are wrapped up in her handsome, dark-eyed betrothed, Nabal. But when the long-awaited wedding day arrives, her drunken groom behaves shamefully. Nevertheless, Abigail tries to honor and respect her husband despite his abuse of her.
Meanwhile, Abigail's family has joined David's wandering tribe as he and his people keep traveling to...more

Paperback, 375 pages

Published February 1st 2010 by Fleming H. Revell Company

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Apr 22, 2012 Louise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

Baker Publishing Group|February 1, 2010|Trade Paperback|ISBN 978-0-8007-3321-6

Story Description:

Her days are marked by turmoil and faded dreams, Abigail has resigned herself to a life with a man she does not love. But when circumstances offer her a second chance at happiness with the handsome David, she takes a leap of faith to join his wandering tribe. Still, her struggles are far from over. How can she share his love with the other women he insists on marrying?

ABIGAIL follows the bestselling M...more

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Apr 22, 2010 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: ABIGAIL
Author: Jill Eileen Smith
Publisher: Revell
March 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3321-6
Genre: Inspirational/biblical fiction

Abigail is a young girl, promised in marriage to a man that she does not love. As Abigail blossoms to maturity, she lives in fear of the day when her betrothed will come and take her away, and so does her family—to the point that they are considering running away, or even canceling the betrothal, leaving Abigail as a “divorced” woman, and shunned the rest of her life.

But...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Nora St Laurent rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again Jill Eileen Smith whisked me into bible times while introducing us to a tender, young Abigail who loves the Lord and anxiously awaits her arranged marriage with Nabal. This author’s illustration of Abigail’s loss of innocence, heartbreak, agony and struggle, is so powerful I could feel her pain, her sorrow. Nabal is a brash, deceitful, selfish man who will do whatever it takes to satisfy his flesh.

Abigail would not let Nabal break her spirit nor turn her back on God. Instead, she sou...more Once again Jill Eileen Smith whisked me into bible times while introducing us to a tender, young Abigail who loves the Lord and anxiously awaits her arranged marriage with Nabal. This author’s illustration of Abigail’s loss of innocence, heartbreak, agony and struggle, is so powerful I could feel her pain, her sorrow. Nabal is a brash, deceitful, selfish man who will do whatever it takes to satisfy his flesh.

Abigail would not let Nabal break her spirit nor turn her back on God. Instead, she sought Adonai (God) for comfort. Abigail lets God mold her and give her strength. Adonai gives Abigail the courage to seek out David in order to avoid blood shed in her household because of Nabals foolish behavior.

David seeks to marry Abigail when he learns of her husband’s death. I was intrigued by this union and how it might have taken place. Jill paints an exciting picture of how these two beautiful people get together. She also describes their inner turmoil and the desire David and Abigail had to do God’s will in the middle of uncertain times. I hadn’t realized how long David lived in the forest as a fugitive, and how many men, women and children were with him; it made it hard to hide, especially since David had crazy King Saul trying to kill him most of that time. I found it amazing how David refused to kill God’s annointed Saul, no matter how frustrating things got.

I liked how Jill broke the book into five parts, and before each part, she had the complete verse and reference for you to read before she described the new part. I found it most helpful and handy for me to go back to the bible and read the complete account later.

This author has a keen insight into the hearts and minds of two strong, passionate people. David and Abigail, continue to show their love for Adonai, each other, and shhared a struggle they had to do the right thing in the eyes of God, not people. It was an eye opener to read what demands there were for a King and the life Abigail might have had as his wife. It was quite different than living with him as a fugitive. I now have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the culture, times back then and why they called David, a man after God’s own heart. I think Abigail felt the same way about Adonai. I could see how they received comfort, wisdom and strength from each other. There was a unity they had that David didn’t share with his other wives. I was encourage as I read about David and Abigail and their life’s struggle, how they sought peace in the middle of their trials and a love so pure. I enjoyed how they humbled themselves before Adonai (God) and sought him with all their heart, soul and strength. It’s a love story you’ll want to read and experience for yourself.

Nora St.Laurent
ACFW Book Club Coordinator
Finding Hope Through Fiction
www.psalm516.blogspot.com (less)

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Mar 04, 2010 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

For her second novel in The Wives of King David series, Jill Eileen Smith explores the life of Abigail, David’s third wife, who came to him while he was still living in the wilderness, running from Saul’s never-ending attempts to end his life. As a widow and a non-royal, Abigail has a strikingly different background and perspective than Michal, David’s first wife, whose story was told in Smith’s first book. While Michal was a privileged princess, Abigail hails from a poor, but loving family, whe...more For her second novel in The Wives of King David series, Jill Eileen Smith explores the life of Abigail, David’s third wife, who came to him while he was still living in the wilderness, running from Saul’s never-ending attempts to end his life. As a widow and a non-royal, Abigail has a strikingly different background and perspective than Michal, David’s first wife, whose story was told in Smith’s first book. While Michal was a privileged princess, Abigail hails from a poor, but loving family, where she is given in marriage to the loutish Nabal in order to settle a long-standing family debt. For the innocent, God-fearing Abigail, her first marriage is a nightmare from day one, and the emotional and physical abuse she suffers takes an increasing toll on Abigail’s well-being and confidence. But she never loses her faith, and when the opportunity comes save the household when Nabal foolishly incites the wrath of David and his followers, she seizes the chance to bring peace to the situation. Little does she realize that her extraordinary act of bravery will set her on a path to capture the heart of God’s anointed, placing her in a position to impact the fate of her people through marriage to the future king.

Although many of the events in Abigail were also covered in Michal, the different female perspective, coupled with a greater focus on David’s years in the wilderness, work together to provide a richer, more fully realized picture of David’s life and character. Smith paints a portrait of David that breathes life into the extraordinary man of God seen in the scriptures, while also bringing to vivid life his flaws and human frailties, making him painfully human and relatable. When David begins to justify taking additional wives in order to expand his household, the result of his all too common human ability to rationalize his desires will have ramifications far into the future. Abigail, so different from her predecessor Michal, is fully fleshed out into the intriguing character that’s only hinted at in 1 Samuel 25. Abigail is the polar opposite of her foolish first husband – beautiful and wise, the abuse heaped on her during that marriage could have broken her character. Though she struggles with fear, jealousy, and trust, Abigail never allows her experiences to define her; rather, her faith takes those experiences and refines her into a woman whose bravery, faith, and compassion make her a thought-provoking, unforgettable inspiration.

I didn’t think Michal could be topped, but with Abigail Smith rises to the challenge and proves to be an even more gifted wordsmith and storyteller. Her passion for scripture and biblical history shines through each page, bringing Abigail’s world to life in brilliant detail. Like Michal, Abigail spans many years, and the time transitions scripture quotations are handled better, resulting in a smoothly flowing, rapidly paced read. I really feel like Smith captures the mindset and customs of the time, because she manages to bring Abigail and David’s love story to life with credibility – a feat that by today’s standards seems nearly impossible given that Abigail competed with David’s other wives for his time and affection. The social dynamic Abigail operated within seems so foreign, but Smith succeeds in presenting the reality of a woman’s life during this time period in a compassionate and understandable way. Once the historical trappings are stripped away, what endures is Abigail’s character and her unshakeable faith in an unchanging God who helps her overcome her fears and grants her peace in the midst of life’s storms – a lesson in faith that still resonates today. (less)

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Feb 19, 2010 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviews, mandys-reads, read-in-2010, fiction

BOOK RECAP:

Bestselling author releases new biblical fiction that tells the story of Abigail: Her marriage to David and their life on the run.

Turmoil marked her life—what price must she pay for love?

From Jill Eileen Smith, bestselling author of Michal, comes the latest biblical fiction in The Wives of King David series: Abigail.
Abigail's hopes and dreams for the future are wrapped up in her handsome, dark-eyed betrothed, Nabal. But when the long-awaited wedding day arrives, her drunken groom beh...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Abigail's marriage to Nabal was doomed to failure from the beginning. A handsome man, Nabal arrested her attention from the first and gave her hope for their future together. But when he begins their marriage by behaving shamefully, she still strives to honor her husband despite his drunken revelries almost every night and his blatant disrespect of Adonai.

David and his band of men protect Nabal's herds from being harmed in the wilderness, and when Nabal hears of it, he refuses to recognize Davi...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Simone rated it 5 of 5 stars

Abigail was forced to marry a man she did not love. Though her husband was easy on the eye, rich and prosperous he was a swine, crude mean and physically abusive. Being the submissive and devoted wife she was raised to be Abigail hides the shame, hurt and embarrassment she often felt by the wrath of her husband Nabal and prays daily for God to rescue her from his cruel hands.

After the hand of God strikes Nabal dead because of his vicious ways Abigail begins to believe in true love again when sh...more

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Jun 02, 2010 Kaylea added it

Shelves: see-blog-for-more-info

Wow. I truly loved this book. Not only did Smith weave a tale that is gripping, but it truly made me stop at times, to grab for my Bible.

I mean, I've read the story of David, but this made me want to say - wait a minute - what does the Bible say. Is that really in there?

While Smith admits she draws on research and inspiration, the basis of her novel is true and pulled from the Biblical text.

Abigail's story examines the power of choices - both good and bad. It examines how a single choice (in Abi...more

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Feb 21, 2010 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Molly by: Revell Books

Shelves: book-review

After being included in being able to review this book for a blog tour, I knew I had to go and get my copy of Michal, book 1, in The Wives of King David series. I loved Michal so much that I couldn't wait to get a hold of Abigail and start reading it. Unlike Michal, which took me 2 weeks to read, I read Abigail in 2 days. It was just as amazingly good and powerful as book 1. I didn't want to say good bye to these wonderful Biblical people who felt like friends to me.

As with Michal, this book mo...more

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Jan 12, 2010 Virginia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-ive-endorsed

I had the privilege of reading a galley of this book back in September, and I enjoyed it so much! Here's the endorsement I turned in to the publisher:

I’ve looked forward to Abigail since I turned the last page of Michal, and Jill Eileen Smith didn’t disappoint me. Abigail’s story is believable and convincing, and it unfolded vividly before my eyes. I felt her pain, rejoiced for her triumphs, and wept with her when tragedy struck. An excellent episode in The Wives of King David series. Now I’m co...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Jocelyn Green rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

Here’s what I liked about the book:
■It was written in a way that made a true biblical story come to life with vivid imagery
■I enjoyed learning more about what a wise woman of the Bible must have gone through and felt.
■I appreciated that whatever dialogue you find in the Bible in this story is included in this novel. So I now have new context for several of David’s psalms, in addition to the story of Abigail saving the day after her husband Nabal acted foolishly.
■I gained a new, very helpful...more

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Feb 24, 2010 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspirational-novels

Jill Eileen Smith’s second story in the Wives of King David remains more than faithful to the Word. She reminds us that society has not changed since the fall. Our natural tendency toward sin is no excuse, and everyone around us suffers when we fail as children of God.

Smith paints Abigail, widow of Nabal of Maon, as a woman chosen by David as a wife for love, not contract or obligation. Smith recreates a believable description of life with the “fool,” the meaning of Nabal’s name. When Abigail he...more

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Feb 24, 2010 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour-book, forreview, forpleasure, historicalfiction, christianfiction, favorite-2010

This novel should be on the NY Times best-seller list. I'm not kidding! In fact, I don't think I've ever said this before about any book I've reviewed. For people who love Biblical fiction, this story should knock their socks off. I'll tell you why...

I was totally entrenched in the lives of the characters and the setting the entire time I read this book. I would've read it straight through if life hadn't gotten in the way. I loved the realism, the emotion, the romance, the way the characters com...more

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Feb 25, 2010 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had the privilege of interviewing Jill Eileen Smith, on our radio show "Kingdom Highlights", for her new book, "Abigail" Book Two in her Wives of King David series published by Revell. When I finally get to Heaven and after I meet Jesus and my family and friends there are certain individuals from the Bible that I want to track down and spend some time with. Abigail is one of those individuals.

Michal, King Saul's daughter, was the first wife of David given to him because David defeated Goliath...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

You know, there aren't a whole lot of female Bible heroes out there. If you wanted to name your kids Biblical names, you'd be fine on boys, but the girls start becoming scarce real fast, unless you have a penchant for Jezebel or Dorcas.

But Abigail is a hero I can cheer on. She's married to Nabal (whose name appropriately means "fool"), a guy who basically defines the term jerk. But she uses her wit and faith to work things out in the end.

The book is well-written and makes you want to turn to the...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Christy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Abigail, as well as book one in the Wives of King David series, Michal, are hands down two of the best Biblical fiction books I've read in a very long time! I have always wanted to know about David and his life from his boyhood all the way to his place as Israel's king. Both of Ms. Smith's books give tons of insight on what it might have been like back then, and more specifically, what it might have been like to be the wife of a king.

I have to admit that I struggled with this book a little bit i...more Abigail, as well as book one in the Wives of King David series, Michal, are hands down two of the best Biblical fiction books I've read in a very long time! I have always wanted to know about David and his life from his boyhood all the way to his place as Israel's king. Both of Ms. Smith's books give tons of insight on what it might have been like back then, and more specifically, what it might have been like to be the wife of a king.

I have to admit that I struggled with this book a little bit in the beginning. Before I tell explain the reason why, I have to commend the author for keeping up with three overlapping storylines that span over both of her books. You see, Abigail does not pick up where Michal left off. Rather, it tells each story as it happened while providing little snippets here and there of what's happening elsewhere. While telling Abigail's story, the author kept me up to date with what was currently happening with David as he continued to flee for his life from King Saul. During David's portions of the story, he would occasionally allude to missing Michal, and how he wished he had taken her with him when he first fled from King Saul. I didn't mind that the story kept going back and forth between Abigail and David, but I found myself wanting to know more about Abigail and less about David hiding out in one cave and then another. That part seemed to be a little repititious since so much of it was already covered in the first book.

I thought the author did a wonderful job portraying Abigail's internal struggle between wanting to please God by honoring her marriage vows, and her desire to be free of her abusive husband, Nabal. Right after their wedding, Abigail was very outspoken with her belief in God and His laws, but Nabal does not want to hear any of it, and instead, he basically beats her to shut her up. As time goes by in their marriage, Abigail quickly learns that she's better off to keep silent and try to avoid the beatings if at all possible. I felt an incredible sadness when reading this because as we all know, not much has changed through the years with those types of relationships.

The most moving part of the book for me was after Abigail and David were married and she was with child. During that time, the author wrote that David penned Psalm 139 which is the psalm about how God knit us together in our mother's womb. Now I don't know if that timeline is accurate, but how it appeared in the story was simply beautiful. It was gradual, giving just a little taste here and there, and by the time the full psalm was written in the story, I was so overcome with emotion thinking about how God above truly does care about us from the very first moment of our lives.

There are some authors out there that, when they find their niche in writing, they need to stick with it. So, um, Ms. Smith....don't stop what you're doing! I was so impressed with your storytelling abilities as well as the loads of time you spent doing research to get everything just so. You definitely have great talent with this particular genre, and I can't wait to read what you've got in store with your next book...I'm really hoping it will be about Bathsheba. :o)(less)

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Sep 15, 2011 Mary Findley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Too much inappropriate modern perspective. Too much self-pity. Too little real wisdom. Not enough understanding of the true situation and culture. Point of view very inconsistent. Talks about how she influenced the other women but that's telling, not showing. And childbirth "Sapping a woman's strength"? Has this author ever had a child? Some people are sick while pregnant but it's relatively uncommon beyond a short duration morning sickness and it's very rarely the child sapping the mother's str...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Holly rated it 1 of 5 stars

Chapter 1- Excited to start reading and find out about Abigail

Chapter 2- Can't put the book down, every page just seems to be getting better

Chapter 3- Pace starts slowing down

Chapter 4- There is now no pace, you have entered the twilight zone

Chapter 5- Read all of 1 and 2 samuel..... king james version

Chapter 6- Flip pages angrily trying to find out if Abigail is even in the book anymore

Chapter 7- Hi i'm the Author Jill Eileen Smith, AND YOU JUST GOT PUNKED!!! SUCKERRSSSS!!!

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Aug 19, 2010 Brenda Rupp rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is : The Wives of King David Book 2
I've never read book 1 and was unfamiliar with the story of King David as told through the bible. So I started this story with no background information which was fine.

The book was quite interesting, it takes you back to ancient days and the way they lived. Abigail was evidently promised into marriage to pay a price her family owed, to a man who was abusive and nasty. She does feel she must stay with this man who she has been joined to no matter how b...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Abigail was the 3rd of David's wives. Although this is a fictional story it is based on pieces of the Bible (scripture quotes and even the use of "Yaweh"). Her stories show that even those who are faithful servants of Our Lord can become disillusioned at times, even suffering the same weaknesses of those who do not follow the teachings of Our Lord.

At the conclusion of this book David had seven (7) wives and he was beginning to see that it was way too many.

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Feb 05, 2012 Virginia rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a delight to read--I looked forward to my chapter/night as a "reward" for a long day! Seeing her strong, quiet, and gentle spirit, where she struggled in many difficult situations, was an encouragement. Her years of marriage to Nabal, an abusive husband, and then to a husband--David--whom she loved and who also appreciated her fellowship in the worship of Adonai, but who took many wives, was an inspiration. It was especially fascinating to read about the everyday life of those times.
I f...more

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May 11, 2010 Michelle Griep rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in The Wives of King David series and I liked it better than the first. Not such an enormous time span was covered. I connected with heroine Abigail way better than I did with Michal. And Smith's writing style is much more polished this go around.
Smith did a great job with making me think about and sympathize with what it must have been like to share your husband with other wives. No wonder God's not pro-bigamy. What a horrible way to live!

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Apr 23, 2010 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith is the second in The Wives of King David series. The author stays true to the biblical account and fills in a believable story of the women we know little about. It's a tricky task, to say the least, to stay true to the historical context when writing about multiple wives. But Jill treats the subject with care, centering on the feelings and struggles of these women. The story unfolds so that even those who know the biblical account of David and Saul will keep reading...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, religious

Argh. I just have a hard time reading about polygamist relationships, even Biblical ones. I love to learn about history and cultures, so I enjoyed this book for that reason. Also author Jill Eileen Smith has shed a nice light on the events surrounding King David's experiences before Saul died. Her research and story development is to be commended.

I probably would have given 4 stars, but I wanted more depth between Abigail and David. He fell too instantly "in love" with her (which was lust), and...more

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May 12, 2011 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

I enjoyed this one a lot more than "Michal." I think that's because Abigail is a much more likable character! :) Some parts seemed slow to me, as with the previous book. I would rather read about Abigail and her life than David's battles and such, but I know both parts are necessary for the story. I was so impressed with how the author overlapped certain parts of the story with "Michal"- basically writing some of the same scenes, but from a different person's perspective. These two stories were...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like reading historical fiction, especially from a women's perspective. I really didn't know anything about Abigail, 3rd wife of King David and I found this book fascinating. It was interesting to learn what life was like during this time period and to learn more about King David when he was a fugitive living in the desert.

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Oct 10, 2011 Colleen Forry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great book, really enjoyed how the author made the characters and story in the bible so real. I was drawn into the lives of David and Abigail, and loved gaining a better cultural understanding of those times. Her writing is smooth and kept my attention. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

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Oct 18, 2011 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I am so glad someone fleshed out Abigail's story. I'd like to see it done again... I have a slightly different view of her strength and courage, but still, well done. I struggle with her true life less than happy ever after though. I wish I could craft my own ending to her story.

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Jun 26, 2012 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bible-based, this story spans Abigail's life from the time she marries her first husband, an abusive egoist, to a portion of her life after she marries David. I can understand why David married a third time after the author introduced me to Abigail.

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Mar 21, 2010 Charline Stanley added it

Abigail (The Wives of King David, #2)By Jill Eileen Smith.

I loved this bibical fiction. Abigail is a very interseting woman. I love reading about her and King david. The chaacters are brought to life in this very enjoyable book. A must read for anyone interested in bibical fiction.

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About Jill Eileen Smith

I'm a wife, mom, and author of a biblical fiction series - The Wives of King David. The books in the series are: Michal: A Novel, Abigail, and Bathsheba. Michal: A Novel is available now from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Abigail releases February 1, 2010.

I write and promote the work of Christian fiction authors that I admire on the "Spotlight" page of my website, and I interview h...more

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