“ Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men.“ Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take away everything you consider valuable!’”Then Ahab summoned all the elders of the land and said to them,“ Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed with his demand that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold.”“ Don’t give in to any more demands,” all the elders and the people advised.So Ahab told the messengers from Ben hadad,“ Say this to my lord the king:‘ I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but I cannot accept this last demand of yours.’” So the messengers returned to Ben hadad with that response.Then Ben hadad sent this message to Ahab:“ May the gods strike me and even kill me if there remains enough dust from Samaria to provide even a handful for each of my soldiers.”The king of Israel sent back this answer:“ A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.”
Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.“ Where are you from?” he demanded.“ From the land of Canaan,” they replied.“ We have come to buy food.”
