Abigail

Abigail was a model of courage and hospitality. When we first meet her, she is trapped in an abusive marriage with an irrational alcoholic husband who so thoroughly insults the rebel leader (the future king David) that David vows to assemble an attack of his troops. Abigail, ignoring the patriarchal structure of the day, assumes leadership of her family and orders her servants to load down their donkeys with supplies and deliver the food to David's army. She not only complies with the law of desert hospitality, but also rides to meet David herself with an official apology. Her eloquent words about David's present and future worth can only be defined as prophesy. Later, with her husband out of the way by means of a heart attack, Abigail becomes one of David's wives. (Image from PowerPoint Presentation, "The Story of Abigail.")