That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. (1 Samuel 25:31)
Heb. puqah, literally, “stumbling.” The word is used figuratively for qualms of conscience. Abigail pleaded with David to conduct himself in such a way that, when he became king, he would thank God for sending a steadying power in his moments of despair and self-pity over ingratitudes heaped upon him. After all, she had been obliged to put up with this independent, grudging, and jealous churl much longer than David.