Abigail

Meaning: father (i.e., "leader") of the dance, or "of joy."

This was the name of two biblical women:

1. The sister of David, and wife of Jether an Ishmaelite (1 Chr. 2:16,17). She was the mother of Amasa (2 Sam. 17:25).

2. The wife of the Nabal, who lived in the district of Carmel (1 Sam. 25:3). She showed great prudence and delicate management at a critical period of her husband's life. She was beautiful and "a woman of good understanding." After Nabal's death she became the wife of David (1 Sam. 25:14-42), and was his companion in all his future fortunes (1 Sam. 27:3; 30:5; 2 Sam. 2:2). By her, David had a son called Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3), elsewhere called Daniel (1 Chr. 3:1).