1Sa 25 | TSK | STEP | Samuel dies. David in Paran sends to Nabal. Provoked by Nabal's churlishness, he minds to destroy him. Abigail understanding thereof, takes a present; and by her wisdom, pacifies David. Nabal hearing thereof, dies. David takes Abigail and Ahinoam to be his wives. Michal is given to Phalti. A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060. An. Ex. Is 431. Samuel. lamented. in this house. the wilderness.

possessions were. or, business was. Carmel.Not the famous mount Carmel, in the north of Canaan, and in the tribe of Asher; but a city, on a mountain of the same name, in the south of Judah, which seems to have given name to the surrounding territory. Eusebius and Jerome inform us, that there was in their time a town called Carmelia, ten miles east from Hebron, where the Romans kept a garrison, whose position well agrees with this Carmel.

man.

Ge 26:13; 2Sa 19:32; Ps 17:14; 73:3-7; Lu 16:19-25

three thousand.

Ge 13:2; Job 1:3; 42:12

shearing.This was a very ancient custom, and appears to have been always attended with festivity. The ancient Romans, however, used to pluck off the wool from the sheep's backs; and hence a fleece was called {vellus,} a {vellendo,} from plucking it off. Pliny says, that in his time sheep were not shorn every where, but in some places the wool was still plucked off.

Ge 38:13; 2Sa 13:23,24

Carmel.

30:5; Jos 15:55

good.

Pr 14:1; 31:26,30,31

was churlish.

10,11,17; Ps 10:3; Isa 32:5-7

and he was.{Wehoo calibbee,} literally, "and he was a Calebite;" but as the word {cailev} signifies a dog, the Septuagint has understood it as implying a man of canine disposition, and translated it, [kai anthropov kunikos,] "and he was a doggish man." It is understood in the same way by the Syriac and Arabic.

did shear.

Ge 38:13; 2Sa 13:23

greet him, etc. Heb. ask him in my name of peace.

17:22; Ge 43:23

liveth.

1Th 3:8; 1Ti 5:6

Peace be both.

2Sa 18:28; *marg:

1Ch 12:18; Ps 122:7; Mt 10:12,13; Lu 10:5; Joh 14:27; 2Th 3:16

thy shepherds.In those times, and at the present day, wandering Arabs, under their several chiefs, think that they have a right to exact contributions of provisions, etc., wherever they come. But David, though he lived in the wilderness like the Arab emirs, had not adopted their manners: one of them, at the head of 600 men, would have demanded, from time to time, some provision or present from Nabal's servants, for permitting them to feed at quiet; and would have driven them away from the watering place upon any dislike. David had done nothing of this kind; but had protected them against those who would.

we hurt. Heb. we shamed.

15,16,21; 22:2; Isa 11:6-9; Lu 3:14; Php 2:15; 4:8

a good day.

Ne 8:10-12; Es 9:19; Ec 11:2; Lu 11:41; 14:12-14

thy son.

3:6; 24:11

ceased. Heb. rested. or, became quiet.

Ge 8:4; 2Ki 2:15; 2Ch 14:7

Who is David.

20:30; 22:7,8; Ex 5:2; Jud 9:28; 2Sa 20:1; 1Ki 12:16; Ps 73:7,8

Ps 123:3,4; Isa 32:5,7

there be.

22:2; Ec 7:10

Shall I then.

3; 24:13; De 8:17; Jud 8:6; Job 31:17; Ps 73:7,8; 1Pe 4:9

flesh. Heb. slaughter. give it.

Ec 11:1,2; Ga 6:10

whom.

14,15; Joh 9:29,30; 2Co 6:9

came.

2Sa 24:13; Isa 36:21,22; Heb 13:17

Gird ye.

Jos 9:14; Pr 14:29; 16:32; 19:2,11; 25:8; Jas 1:19,20

David also.

24:5,6; Ro 12:19-21

two hundred.

30:9,10,21-24

railed on them. Heb. flew upon them.

Mr 15:29

very good.

7,21; Php 2:15

hurt. Heb. shamed.

a wall.

Ex 14:22; Job 1:10; Jer 15:20; Zec 2:5

evil.

20:7,9,33; 2Ch 25:16; Es 7:7

a son of Belial.

25; 2:12; De 13:13; Jud 19:22; 2Sa 23:6,7; 1Ki 21:10,13

2Ch 13:7

that a man.

20:32,33; 2Ki 5:13,14

made haste.

34; Nu 16:46-48; Pr 6:4,5; Mt 5:25

took two.The Eastern bread is generally both thin and small; and answers to our cakes.

Ge 32:13-20; 43:11-14; 2Sa 17:28,29; Pr 18:16; 21:14

two bottles.That is, two goatskins' full.

five sheep.Not one sheep to one hundred men.

clusters. Heb. lumps. Raisins dried in the sun.

2Sa 16:1

cakes of figs.Figs cured and then pressed together. Now all this provision was a matter of little worth; and had it been granted in the first instance, it would have perfectly satisfied David, and secured his good offices.

Go.

Ge 32:16,20

But.

Pr 31:11,12,27

rode.

2Ki 4:24

she came down.David was coming down mount Paran; Abigail was coming down from Carmel.

Surely.

13; Job 30:8; Ps 37:8; Eph 4:26,31; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 2:21-23; 3:9

he hath requited.

Ge 44:4; Ps 35:12; 38:20; 109:3-5; Pr 17:13; Jer 18:20; Ro 12:21

1Pe 2:20; 3:17

So and more.Nothing can justify this conduct of David, which was rash, unjust, and cruel in the extreme. David himself condemns it, and thanks God for being prevented from executing this evil. (ver. 32-34.)

3:17; 14:44; 20:13,16; Ru 1:17

if I leave.

any that pisseth, etc.This seems to have been a proverbial expression among the Israelites; and may with the utmost propriety be read "any male."

1Ki 14:10; 16:11; 21:21; 2Ki 9:8

lighted.

Jos 15:18; Jud 1:14

fell.

20:41; 24:8

fell.

2Ki 4:37; Es 8:3; Mt 18:29

Upon.

28; Ge 44:33,34; 2Sa 14:9; Phm 1:18,19

let thine.

Ge 44:18; 2Sa 14:12

audience. Heb. ears.

regard. Heb. lay it to his heart.

2Sa 13:33; Isa 42:25; Mal 2:2

man of Belial.

17,26

Nabal. that is, fool.

as the Lord liveth.

34; 22:3; 2Ki 2:2; 4:6

and as thy.

1:26

the Lord hath.

33; Ge 20:6

from.

Ro 12:19,20

avenging thyself. Heb. saving thyself.

Ps 18:47,48; 44:3

now let.

2Sa 18:32; Jer 29:22; Da 4:19

blessing. or, present.

30:26; Ge 33:11; 2Ki 5:15; 2Co 9:5

follow. Heb. walk at the feet of.

42; *marg:

Jud 4:10; 2Sa 16:2

forgive.

the Lord.

15:28; 2Sa 7:11,16,27; 1Ki 9:5; 1Ch 17:10,25; Ps 89:29

fighteth.

17:47; 18:17; 2Sa 5:2; 2Ch 20:15; Eph 6:10,11

evil hath.

24:6,7,11,17; 1Ki 15:5; Ps 119:1-3; Mt 5:16; Lu 23:41,47

bound.The metaphors in this verse are derived from the consideration, that things of value are collected together, and often tied up in bundles, like sheaves of corn, to prevent their being scattered and lost, and that whatever is put into a sling is not intended to be preserved, but to be thrown away.

2:9; Ge 15:1; De 33:29; Ps 66:9; 116:15; Mal 3:17; Mt 10:29,30

with the Lord.

Joh 10:27-30; 14:19; 17:21,23; Col 3:3,4; 1Pe 1:5

sling out.

Jer 10:18

as out of the middle of a sling. Heb. in the midst of thebow of a sling.

according.

13:14; 15:28; 23:17; Ps 89:20

grief. Heb. staggering, or, stumbling.

Pr 5:12,13; Ro 14:21; 2Co 1:12

avenged.

33; 24:15; 26:23; 2Sa 22:48; Ps 94:1; Ro 12:19

remember.

40; Ge 40:14; Lu 23:42 David overlooks the rich and seasonable present of Abigail, though pressed with hunger and wearied with travel; but her advice, which disarmed his rage, and calmed his revenge, draws forth these high and affectionate gratulations. These were his joyful and glorious trophies; not over his enemies, but over himself.

Ge 24:27; Ex 18:10; Ezr 7:27; Ps 41:12,13; 72:18; Lu 1:68; 2Co 8:16

blessed.

Ps 141:5; Pr 9:9; 17:10; 25:12; 27:21; 28:23

which hast.

avenging.

26,31; 24:19; 26:9,10

kept me back.

hasted.

18; 11:11; Jos 10:6,9

there had.

Go up.

20:42; 2Sa 15:9; 2Ki 5:19; Lu 7:50; 8:48

accepted.

Ge 19:21; Job 34:19

a feast.

2Sa 13:23; Es 1:3-7; Lu 14:12

merry.

2Sa 13:28; 1Ki 20:16; Pr 20:1; 23:29-35; Ec 2:2,3; 10:19

Isa 28:3,7,8; Jer 51:57; Da 5:1-5; Na 1:10; Hab 2:15,16; Lu 21:34

Ro 13:13; Eph 5:18; 1Th 5:7,8

she told him.

19; Ps 112:5; Mt 10:16; Eph 5:14

had told him.

22,34

his heart.

De 28:28; Job 15:21,22; Pr 23:29-35

the Lord.

33; 6:9; Ex 12:29; 2Ki 15:5; 19:35; 2Ch 10:15; Ac 12:23

Blessed.

32; Jud 5:2; 2Sa 22:47-49; Ps 58:10,11; Re 19:1-4

pleaded.

Pr 22:23; La 3:58-60; Mic 7:9

kept his servant.

26,34; Ho 2:6,7; 2Co 13:7; 1Th 5:23; 2Ti 4:18

hath returned.

2Sa 3:28,29; 1Ki 2:44; Es 7:10; Ps 7:16

to take her.It is probable that David had heard that Saul, to cut off his pretensions to the throne, had married Michal to Phalti; and this justified him in taking Abigail, it not being then unlawful for a man to have several wives. This conduct of David's corresponds with the manner in which the Oriental princes generally form their matrimonial alliances. "The king of Abyssinia," says Mr. Bruce, "sends an officer to the house where the lady lives, who announces to her that it is the king's pleasure she should remove instantly to the palace. She then dresses herself in the best manner, and immediately obeys. Thenceforward he assigns her an apartment in the palace, and gives her a house elsewhere in any part she chooses."

Pr 18:22; 19:14; 31:10,30

David sent.

Ge 24:37,38,51

thine.

Ru 2:10,13; Pr 15:33; 18:12

to wash.

Ge 18:4; Joh 13:3-5; 1Ti 5:10

Abigail.

Ge 24:61-67; Ps 45:10,11

after her. Heb. at her feet.

Jezreel.

Jos 15:56; 2Sa 3:2