Nabal answered David’s servants,“ Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?” (niv)
But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’”The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them,“ See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”The elders and the people all answered,“ Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.”So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers,“ Tell my lord the king,‘ Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab:“ May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”The king of Israel answered,“ Tell him:‘ One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’” (niv)
As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.“ Where do you come from?” he asked.“ From the land of Canaan,” they replied,“ to buy food.” (niv)
