Abigail (29 page)

“Praise be to Adonai, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who has chosen you, David, son of Jesse, to be our king, to rule His people Israel in righteousness and justice. This day I anoint you king over the house of Judah.” Abiathar stepped to David’s side and lifted the horn of oil.

Abigail’s breath caught as she watched the contents of the jar flow out in a thin, amber stream over David’s bowed head. David’s face shone with a joy she had never seen from him before, and a moment later, as Abiathar prayed, David lifted his hands toward heaven, his lashes glistening with unshed tears.

When the prayer ended, Abiathar accepted the book of the law from a scribe and read, “When you enter the land Adonai your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, ‘Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,’ be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite.”

Abigail listened with interest, watching David’s bowed head and hands clasped before him. Surely this time Adonai’s choice of David would prove better than the people’s choice of Saul.

“The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for Adonai has told you, ‘You are not to go back that way again.’ He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

Abigail’s heart stirred with the mention of wives. Would David take more than the three he already had, once Michal was returned to him? Would they lead his heart away?

Please, Adonai, may I never lead David away from You.

“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere Adonai his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.”

Abiathar handed the book back to the scribe as Benaiah brought the robe Abigail had fashioned for the new king and held it open for David to place his arms through the sleeves. Gold and green fig leaves adorned the purple fabric along the fringes near the sleeves and at the base near the ankles. A golden-fringed sash held the robe in place, and a gilded, jeweled crown was placed on David’s head.

“Long live King David!” Abiathar shouted, hands outstretched toward the people.

The shout repeated as one voice from the cheering crowd, over and over again, until David ascended the step where he had knelt and took the throne.

A lump formed in Abigail’s throat as she watched the humble, awed face of her husband. She moved slightly to get a better glimpse of him, her heart soaring when she caught his eye and his ready smile.

She leaned her head against the wall of the alcove and released a slow sigh. The day David had longed for had finally come to pass. He was king of Judah and soon would be king of all Israel. Life had already changed dramatically for her, for them, for their marriage. The question remained, what now?

How did a woman act as a wife to the king?

PART IV

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 3:1

Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.

2 Samuel 2:30–31

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The dining hall overflowed with people, the men seated nearest the king and the women at the back closest to the walls. Men’s voices rose and fell in boisterous laughter as the food was set before them—platters of meat and fish, dates and figs, leeks and lentils, and wine in abundance. Their conversations drowned out the women’s quieter voices, forcing Abigail to focus on her food instead of Ahinoam and Maacah, David’s newest wife, and the wives of David’s captains seated near her.

The first year of David’s rule in Hebron had passed, and war between the house of Saul and the house of David loomed on the horizon, with Abner working to gather support to formally proclaim Ishbosheth king of Israel.

Amnon’s childish chatter caught Abigail’s attention, and she glanced at Ahinoam’s young son, then looked quickly away. She caught sight of Maacah’s seductive eyes fixed on David as the woman daintily bit into a fresh date and then slowly licked her lips. The woman had wasted no time squeezing her way into David’s affections, and Abigail had no doubt that Maacah would be the next one to bear David a son. Abigail had been married to Nabal for three years and to David for more than three, and she still carried no child in her womb. She had finally resigned herself to the fact that she was undoubtedly barren, like David’s first wife Michal.

The thought still pained her despite her resignation, but the sting had lost some of its edge. She picked a fresh date from a platter, her gaze taking in the scene before her. David leaned on a couch of soft cushions surrounded by his closest advisors, his expression thoughtful but distant, as though he was only half listening. His dark eyes looked over the crowd, pausing every now and then to assess a man, then abruptly he turned to show interest to someone seated near him.

Daniel had the privilege of sitting at the king’s table this night, and Abigail could only imagine how excited and proud that must make her brother feel. He’d been pining for months, years in fact, to join the band dubbed “David’s mighty men,” and he’d taken who knew what risks to gain military acclaim and catch David’s favor. But other men had always surpassed his prowess, killing more of the enemy or doing some uncommon feat, like Benaiah, David’s bodyguard who had killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

Somehow Daniel’s actions never quite caught David’s military eye the way Daniel had hoped, despite his connection to her. Even now, as Daniel sat near the king, she could see David paying little attention to her brother. Had he grown weary of her family as he had appeared to have grown weary of her?

A yearning in her heart made her look away from her husband’s handsome face, determined not to give in to the melancholy that threatened her. She should be proud that he had finally achieved his dreams, that Adonai had shined on David with such pleasure. If only the people would favor him a little less, would not consider their daughters as such wonderful gifts to offer their king. She had already endured David’s marriage to the foreigner Maacah, and rumor had it that another wedding to the fair Haggith would take place before the month was out.

“Try to at least appear interested in the meal, my daughter. You are a woman of privilege, wife of the king, yet your mouth is curled in such a dour expression. If the king does notice you, he will most certainly not be attracted to such a display.” Abigail’s mother lowered her body to the end of Abigail’s couch and scooted closer to her daughter, placing a comforting hand on her arm. “Be grateful, Abigail dear,” she whispered close to Abigail’s ear, the scent of honey on her lips.

Abigail straightened and did her best to offer her mother a convincing smile, knowing that David hadn’t gotten close enough to notice her moods in weeks. The thought added to the sinking feeling that warred with her appetite. She drew a deep breath and bid the feelings subside, reminding herself yet again that her mother was right. She tasted another date and glanced at her husband, whose attention was occupied.

“I try, Mama.” She picked up her silver goblet and gazed at the wine swirling untouched at the bottom. “If only Adonai would grant us a son . . .” She blinked, surprised at the wave of emotion she carried. She swallowed and tried again. “David hasn’t called for me in weeks.” To admit such a thing made her feel like a failure.

“He is a busy man with far too many demands on his time. I’m sure he still cares for you, dear one.” Her mother’s tone gentled. She plucked a thick piece of fish from a platter, scooped up leeks and two juicy slices of melon, and plopped them onto Abigail’s tray. “You need nourishment. You will waste away to nothing at the rate you are eating.”

“I’m not hungry, Mama.”

Her mother regarded her, turning her chin to look into her eyes. “Is a son all that worries you, my daughter? Or is there something you are not telling me?”

Her mother had always been a strong woman, having endured the loss of several children between her and Daniel. She would understand Abigail’s fears, but the tension she’d always created in Abigail made her reluctant to confide in her. Especially not here. If she were indeed barren, which would be more obvious if David were more attentive, the news would come out soon enough when all of David’s other wives began to beget children and she did not. So far, only Ahinoam had birthed a son, and even she had not begat another since Amnon’s birth. If Maacah were with child, she would have flaunted it in Abigail’s face. Not that she didn’t try to keep David to herself every chance she got.

Abigail cast a sidelong glance toward the two women who shared her husband, noting the distance between them and the wall of hostility each put up as an invisible barrier. A deep shudder worked through her, and she leaned closer to her mother. Despite the tension, her mother was someone she could trust.

“It’s hard to share him, Mama.” She swirled the liquid in her chalice. “I fear we will never . . . I mean, he will never . . .” Heat crept up her neck, warming her cheeks.

Her mother reached for her arm and gently squeezed. “He will, dear. Of course he will. But you must do all in your power to make him want to. Make yourself visible, eat properly, smile coyly at him when he looks your way. There are ways a woman can beguile a man, you know.”

“Of course.” She knew. Didn’t she? She’d seen Maacah use her wiles on David often enough, and he had always seemed powerless to pull away from her, even when his expression told Abigail he might have preferred a quiet evening with her. “I will try harder, Mama.” She rested the chalice on the table and patted her mother’s hand. “Thank you.”

“What else are mothers for? If only your sister-in-law were as willing to listen.” Mama lifted her hands in a defeated gesture. “Ach. I try with that one, but she is forever letting that brother of yours do whatever he pleases without a single word of caution. Men don’t know their own minds. But you know this, don’t you, dear? They need a strong woman to guide them, as you did for David when he nearly went off on a fool’s errand to kill your first husband. Where would we be now if you hadn’t intervened? David thinks he has troubles with Israel following Saul’s son now. Things would be even worse if he’d taken vengeance on Nabal.”

Her mother prattled on as she was wont to do, while Abigail’s thoughts drifted. She was not willing to get caught up in her mother’s complaints about Talya. Her sister-in-law respected her brother, far more than Mama did Abba. She wouldn’t fault her for that no matter what her mother said. “Now your father, he knows when to listen to me. He isn’t so foolish that he would go off to war trying to win David’s favor, making me worry so. What is wrong with your brother that he keeps seeking some ridiculous military glory? Perhaps if you spoke to David . . .”

Abigail looked across the room again at the mention of David’s name, her heart tripping at the sight of him, and in that moment, he glanced her way. Their gazes held, and on instinct she turned her head to the side and lifted a brow, offering him a distinctly suggestive smile. His eyes widened in response, alight with something akin to amusement. He lifted a hand to his beard, toying with a smile. She turned her head and lifted her chin, raising a hand to cover her mouth.

He waved a servant toward him, never taking his eyes from hers despite the tables and men between them. She watched him lean toward the servant and whisper something in his ear. The man bowed and left, and David glanced her way again, gave her a slight nod, then turned back to his advisors. Musicians tuned their instruments and began a lively song, while jugglers and dancers swayed between the tables throughout the hall.

Abigail realized that her mother had stopped talking and was now giving her a look that said she’d seen what had transpired between her and David.

At the end of the first set of songs, the servant David had spoken to approached her table. “My lady Abigail.”

She turned to face him. “Yes?”

“The king has requested you come with me.”

Abigail rose quickly, but not before her mother caught her arm and half rose to whisper in her ear, “See if you can get the king to keep Daniel from any more military excursions. I promised Talya I would ask you.”

The man cleared his throat, and Abigail glanced at her mother, then hurried to excuse herself from the banquet. Did Talya put her mother up to this? If so, why would her mother complain that Talya never tried to talk sense into Daniel?

She shook the thoughts aside, her heart thudding harder in anticipation as she followed the man from the hall down through the family courtyard, to David’s private chambers. Female servants met her there and spent the next hour perfuming her body, sweetening her breath, and dressing her in fine white linen.

She felt his presence before she heard him. The chattering girls attending her giggled, then hurried from the room, leaving her alone with him. He stood there, leaning one hand on the threshold beneath the arch leading to his spacious chambers. His dark eyes were lit with pleasure and roamed over her slowly, as though he were savoring the moment.

“It’s been too long, Abigail.”

“Yes, my lord, it has.” She stood still, not sure how to proceed, unused to plying feminine wiles to get what she wanted. She was too used to trying to appease angry men.

But by the look on David’s face, he was far from angry. He closed the door behind him and took a step toward her, then another. He removed the gilded leather belt from his waist and slipped the purple robe from his back, flinging it over the couch. He stopped in front of her and pulled her into his arms. His kiss was warm and comforting, like sweet wine for the thirsty.