Nabal answered David’s servants,“ Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are running away from their masters these days.Why should I give away my bread and water? Why should I give away the meat I’ve prepared for those who clip the wool off my sheep? Why should I give food to men who come from who knows where?”
But now I’m going to send my officials to you. They will come about this time tomorrow. They’ll search your palace. They’ll search the houses of your officials. They’ll take everything you value. And they’ll carry it all away.’ ”The king of Israel sent for all the elders of the land. He said to them,“ This man is really looking for trouble! He sent for my wives and children. He sent for my silver and gold. And I agreed to give them to him.”All the elders and people answered,“ Don’t listen to him. Don’t agree to give him what he wants.”So Ahab replied to Ben- Hadad’s messengers. He said,“ Tell my king and master,‘ I will do everything you commanded me to do the first time. But this time, I can’t do what you want me to do.’ ” They took Ahab’s answer back to Ben- Hadad.Then Ben- Hadad sent another message to Ahab. Ben- Hadad said,“ There won’t be enough dust left in Samaria to give each of my followers even a handful. If there is, may the gods punish me greatly.”The king of Israel replied. He said,“ Tell him,‘ Someone who puts his armor on shouldn’t brag like someone who takes it off.’ ”
As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them. But he pretended to be a stranger. He spoke to them in a mean way.“ Where do you come from?” he asked.“ From the land of Canaan,” they replied.“ We’ve come to buy food.”
