1 Samuel 25:10

10 Pero Nabal les contestó:—¿Y quién es ese tal David? ¿Quién es el hijo de Isaí? Hoy día son muchos los esclavos que se escapan de sus amos.

1 Samuel 25:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 25:10

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said
In a very haughty manner, in great wrath, just as churlish covetous persons do, when they do not care to give what is asked of them:

who [is] David? and who [is] the son of Jesse;
his two questions, which relate to the same person, do not well agree together, since by both he would suggest as if he knew not the person they came from, and whose name they made use of: had he stopped at the first question, it might have gone so, but his second question betrays him, and plainly shows he did know him, though he speaks with contempt of him, calling him "the son of Jesse", as Saul often did, ( 1 Samuel 20:27 1 Samuel 20:30 1 Samuel 20:31 ) ( 1 Samuel 22:7 1 Samuel 22:8 1 Samuel 22:13 ) . Abarbinel, of all interpreters, is of opinion only, that Nabal did not say this disrespectfully of David, and to his dishonour; he knew he was the Lord's anointed, and the king's son-in-law; but the sense, according to him, is, "who [is] David? and who [is] the son of Jesse?" are they not one man? but though he is the son of Jesse, and prides himself saying, I shall be king, I should not regard that, but would send him corn, and bread, and food, as much as is needful for his own use; but what can I do when there are so many servants? for they are six hundred of them, and they are too many to relieve:

there be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his
master;
which words also the same writer thinks have no reference to David, only to his men; but they seem plainly to strike at David himself, and suggest that he had revolted from and rebelled against Saul his master, as well as received and protected fugitives and renegades, such as fled from their masters and from their creditors; see ( 1 Samuel 22:2 ) .

1 Samuel 25:10 In-Context

8 Pregúntales a tus criados, y ellos mismos te lo confirmarán. Por tanto, te agradeceré que recibas bien a mis hombres, pues este día hay que celebrarlo. Dales, por favor, a tus siervos y a tu hijo David lo que tengas a la mano”».

9 Cuando los hombres de David llegaron, le dieron a Nabal este mensaje de parte de David y se quedaron esperando.

10 Pero Nabal les contestó:—¿Y quién es ese tal David? ¿Quién es el hijo de Isaí? Hoy día son muchos los esclavos que se escapan de sus amos.

11 ¿Por qué he de compartir mi pan y mi agua, y la carne que he reservado para mis esquiladores, con gente que ni siquiera sé de dónde viene?

12 Los hombres de David se dieron la vuelta y se pusieron en camino. Cuando llegaron ante él, le comunicaron todo lo que Nabal había dicho.