David’s marriages to Ahinoam and Abigail were likely politically motivated,1 an attempt to win support on his way to the throne. With Abigail as his wife, he secured the support of her servants and presumably also those in Hebron who knew her well.2 Following the death of Saul, it would be in this same area of Hebron that he first became and ruled as king (2 Samuel 2:1–4).3
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife.