(father, i.e. source, of joy).

1. The beautiful wife of Nabal, a wealthy owner of goats and sheep in Carmel. When David’s messengers were slighted by Nabal, Abigail supplies David and his followers with provisions and succeeded in appeasing his anger. Ten days after this Nabal died, and David sent for Abigail and made her his wife (1 Samuel 25:14, etc.). By her he had a son, called Chileab in 2 Samuel 3:3 but Daniel in 1 Chronicles 3:1.
2. A sister of David, married to Jether the Ishmaelite, and mother, by him, of Amasa (1 Chronicles 2:17). In 2 Samuel 17:25 for “Israelite” read “Ishmaelite.”