NABAL was a rich man who owned large flocks of sheep and goats in Carmel. He refused to provision David's men, and David set out to raid Nabal's farm. Nabal's wife, Abigail, met David with several asses laden with food and thus pacified David into calling off the raid. When Nabal learned what Abigail had done, his heart turned to stone, and he died ten days later. Abigail subsequently married David (I Kings 25).

Nabal is Abigail's husband, to whom she gave good advice, MerchT 1369; Mel 1098-1100. Nabal means "fool" in Hebrew, and in the Biblical account his wife is more interested in saving their lives than in giving good advice. [Abigayl: David]

The name occurs medially, MerchT 1369.