Three Parasangs


 According to Jewish Midrash texts:


They did not escape the Rabbis, who viewed the nighttime encounter between David and Abigail as an event with adulterous potential. The Rabbis relate that Abigail’s thigh was revealed to David, he lusted after her and he went after her for three parasangs. David said to Abigail: “Heed me [i.e., lie with me]!,” to which she replied: “Do not let this be a cause of stumbling” (v. 31)—this should not be a stumbling block and a cause of transgression for you. David did indeed heed her and overcame his evil inclination. After this, he blessed Abigail (v. 33): “And blessed be you for restraining me from seeking redress in blood [damim].”


The Rabbis learn from the plural “damim” that she saved him from two transgressions: from committing bloodshed, and from having relations with her when she was menstrually impure.


Taking out these lines: "Three (3) parasangs what does it mean?" A parasang means an ancient Persian unit of distance, equal to about 3.5 miles (5.6 km).


In our culture today we may equate three parasangs to the term "advancements." David insisted but Abigail resisted so normally and naturally but with great humility, took off her cloak exposed herself. This just also means that Abigail knows that heading to such dealings at night, in secret, will leave her possibility of being violated, and her chastity unprotected, and exposing herself this way may ruin her status as a highly respectable married woman. But she also understood the terror of bloodshed in her household, the men who will commit their deaths will not settle any debts. It will do no good. So if she must, then she will and won't regret it. 


Judging her so poorly will leave you nothing but this feeling of being an "unqualified" woman of your desire. But David having been blinded for a while was suddenly back to his senses, his manly values in front of a poor beauty begging to spare all of her household impressed God even more. The Lord testing David's limits further watched how David gently drifted (3 parasangs) from the steamy scene: A virtuous woman in front of a foolish future king-to-be back to its sane mind said: She is indeed!

AC

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