1 Samuel 25:5
And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
This greeting belongs to the time after Saul slew the priests of the Lord, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech escaped and fled to David. David kept Abiathar with himself in safeguard, because Saul sought the life of them both. At that same time David had camped near the property of Nabal and had protected his flocks and his shepherds so that no harm came to them.
From that camp David sent out ten young men up to Carmel to go to Nabal and greet him in David's name. Their greeting carried a courteous request for food for David and his men, who were in need. Nabal answered that respectful appeal with insolence, returning evil for good. Though he had abundance to share, he refused to share it.