Abigail

by Lois T. Henderson

Dramatizes the Biblical story of Abigail, the wife of David, and how she foretold that her husband would rule Israel

Genres: Biblical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical, Adult

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Lois T. Henderson is an American author of Christian novels, many of which are dramatizations of Biblical narratives about women.

Reviews

[Abagail · Rating 2 out of 5]

My grandma gave me this book, like, ten years ago and I never remembered to read it. Now that she’s passed away, I figured I probably should! She gave it to me since I share a name with this biblical figure, and I do know the basics of her limited story in the Bible. I was excited to see her life expanded on in a fictional way, so I could just have more of a story in my head.

But this book is a little bit conflicting, because Abigail is an awesome woman, ahead of her time, and I also feel the book is at its best when we see the relationships she forms with other women. But it’s really hard to write a young adult novel set in biblical times and have men be…likable?? Even the ones who are considered to be “the good guys.” Now, I’m not trying to talk about the Bible here because that is a different discussion. I just feel that, if I were reading this out of context, as a random novel, I would find it really hard to like a man who expects each of his multiple wives to be subservient and meek, whether or not he was God’s beloved. It just didn’t translate that well to this style of book for me.

Anyway, it’s a neat idea, the writing isn’t bad, and the women are great, but the men are all really hard to deal with so. Maybe 2.5 but we’ll go with 2.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were things I liked, things she did well... Descriptions of the land. David's personality, at many points.
But there were many more things I didn't like. The personalities she gave characters, some things she tweaked from the Bible (accidentally or purposefully, I don’t know), and some illogical things for that place, time, and context.
She also seemed to say someone doesn't have value if they have a problem, at least in a veiled way. (In this case, physically.) Abigail didn't seem to care about things on her own, including her son, without the context of others seeing value. I thought that would be a problem she learned and grew to recoginize and fix, but it wasn't.

Henderson's book about Hagar was quite good! But I won't be keeping this one or reading it again.

[kenz 🫧 · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was super interesting to read. although a work of fiction, Abigail was in fact King David’s third wife. David’s wives aren’t as talked about so this was really interesting. Although there is no exact Biblical connection, the story was great and I highly recommend it. high 4 stars for me!

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

True confession: I chose this from a small library's "free books" bin primarily because it was a large print version, and I thought, "Yeah, no need for reading glasses!"

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, a work of fiction, tells a story of the biblical Abigail, wife of David, who becomes King of Israel. I read the first book of Samuel from the Bible first, which helped set the story and gave me a good background as to the events going on at the time. Abigail meets Samuel, who blesses her before she marries Nabal, a mean man who is rich, but drinks heavily. When David's men ask for food for their army for protecting Nabal's land, Nabal refuses, but Abigail goes out with offerings to the men, and meets David. When Nabal dies, David and Abigail marry. Abigail lives a faithful, happy, yet difficult life with David's first wife and son, and Chileab, Abigail's son with David. Abigail continually prays to Yahweh, and is blessed and content with singing her songs of prayer and praise.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice, fictional account of Abigail’s life. I felt like I know her a little bit better, and the author seemed to try to stay true to what the Bible actually tells us about Abigail and David. In this novel Abigail may have been shown to have even greater influence in David’s decisions and spiritual life than she actually did, however. We don’t know for sure. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, I can recommend this one.

[Milkah Mwangi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

i feel like she could have done more with the romance between david and abigail. also the book in general felt a bit clichè and forced.

one thing i liked though was how abigail was depicted as a strong woman.

[Meadow Frisbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting tale of the life of Abigail. The women who faced up to a King, and in return became the Queen of Israel.

[Guna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abigail is the little-mentioned wife of King David. This is her story from her childhood - it amplifies our understanding, does not conflict with the biblical story.

[Merrie]

I have decided, again this year, to read through the Bible. The first time I did this, I read companion books to enhance my readings. I have lined up the various historical fiction books I have purchased over the years and I am reading them in order of when the characters appeared in my Bible reading. I find it helps me remember what I read as well as helps me recognize where the author is off on the true details. I also enjoy it because it give me some possible thoughts and feelings to bring the Bible characters to life. Some things I may agree with and some not, but it lets me understand them as real people in real situations.

In this particular book, I feel the Author stayed true to the events that happened, but went too far in giving Abigail so much influence with David and in making her almost a prophet who seeing into the future.
But as I followed the story line, it helped me understand what Davids household went through before David became King.

[Terry Polston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of the story of David becoming King of the Israelites with the help and guidance of Yahweh and his wife Abigail. A very romanticized version of a young woman who, of course, is mostly left out of history.

[deborah cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an easy read but thoroughly engaging. I have moved on to another of this authors books.

[Laura The Book Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book that is based off the story of Abigail in the bible. Lois T. Henderson takes the biblical account and weaves a possible story around it.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVED this book when I was like 13. These days… eh. I think part of the reason that I liked this book was because it was very very VERY lightly sexy haha.

[Robert Conder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book on Abigail and David. It expands their life from what is told in the Bible. Although the writer has taken liberties in writing it, it does not do a disservice to the story.

[Nell Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was something I probably would have read as a young teenager.

[Leah Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abigail is a young teenager in Hebron. Her love for the fields and making songs do not fit a woman in her culture, but her shepherd father finds ways to allow her both pleasures. Abigail savors her time in the wilderness pastures with their sheep because she knows her time at home is rushing to an end. She is betrothed to a man much older than herself--a man her father didn't realize was a drunk until the betrothal could not be undone.

Soon before she leaves Hebron to join the household of Nabal, Samuel comes to Abigail's town and stays with her family. He speaks of a newly annointed king who will someday take the place of Saul. The name of David makes Abigail's heart thrill. She knows Yahweh has ordained her to serve David in some special way.

When Nabal sends messangers to say he is ready to take Abigail as his wife, Abigail holds on to David's words to give her courage in her unwanted marriage. The future seems bleak, but beyond what she can see, the Lord has planned for her a home in the wilderness she loves and a place in the heart of David, the warrior poet.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book caught my attention since it is the woman I named my daughter after. I wanted to do a more in depth study of the woman of the Bible. I didn't realize the battles she had to endure, including sharing her husband with multiple women. It was a good book that made me consider reading the other books of the series.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing view of an extraordinary woman.

[Umab8587 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my Abigail Circle. Interesting historical fiction about one of David's wives.

[Marcy Stearns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more insight re: the life of this interesting Biblical woman. It was a good story, but I didn't find any new insights.

[Erin Goettsch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this book from 1980 on a low shelf of a church library while visiting. Dumb and cheesy in a fun guilty pleasure kind of way.

[abner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book

[Abigail Goff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful depiction of what “could’ve” been true. Absolute perfection!