1 Samuel 25:37

37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up,^[a] his wife told him about these events. Then he had a seizure^[b] and became paralyzed.^[c]

1 Samuel 25:37 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 25:37

But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out
of Nabal
When he had slept, and was become sober, and so capable of attending to and understanding what might be related to him: and his wife had told him these things;
recorded in this chapter, before observed: that his heart died within him, and he became [as] a stone;
he swooned away, became as cold as a stone, and remained as senseless, spoke not a word, but lay in a stupor; the Jewish writers generally say this was occasioned by the distress and uneasiness the present his wife carried to David gave him; but it is more likely the sense of the danger that was impressed upon his mind, which he had been exposed to through his carriage to David and his men; who, he feared, notwithstanding all his wife said would return and take vengeance on him.

1 Samuel 25:37 In-Context

35 Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request."

36 Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, feasting like a king. Nabal was in a good mood and very drunk, so she didn't say anything to him until morning light.

37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. Then he had a seizure and became paralyzed.

38 About 10 days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise the Lord who championed my cause against Nabal's insults and restrained His servant from doing evil. The Lord brought Nabal's evil deeds back on his own head." Then David sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit when the wine had gone out of Nabal
• [b]. Lit Then his heart died within him
• [c]. Lit became a stone