1 Samuel 25:1-6

David, Nabal and Abigail

1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.[a]
2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
3 His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.
5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name.
6 Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!

1 Samuel 25:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 25

This chapter gives an account of the death of Samuel, and of the ill treatment David met with from Nabal; it begins with the death of Samuel, which was greatly lamented in Israel, 1Sa 25:1; it draws the character of Nabal, and his wife, 1Sa 25:2,3; records a message of David to him, by his young men, desiring he would send him some of his provisions made for his sheep shearers, 1Sa 25:4-9; and Nabal's ill-natured answer to him reported by the young men, which provoked David to arm against him, 1Sa 25:10-13,21,22; and this being told Abigail, the wife of Nabal, and a good character given of David and his men, and of the advantage Nabal's shepherds had received from them, and the danger his family was in through his ingratitude, 1Sa 25:14-17; she prepared a present to pacify David, went with it herself, and addressed him in a very handsome, affectionate, and prudent manner, 1Sa 25:18-31; and met with a kind reception, 1Sa 25:32-35; and the chapter is closed with an account of the death of Nabal, and of the marriage of Abigail to David, 1Sa 25:32-44.

Cross References 10

  • 1. 1 Samuel 28:3
  • 2. S Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 20:29; Deuteronomy 34:8
  • 3. S 1 Samuel 7:17; Genesis 21:21; 2 Chronicles 33:20
  • 4. S Joshua 15:55; 1 Samuel 23:24
  • 5. 2 Samuel 19:32
  • 6. S Genesis 31:19
  • 7. Proverbs 31:10
  • 8. S Joshua 14:13; S Joshua 15:13
  • 9. Psalms 122:7; Matthew 10:12; Luke 10:5
  • 10. 1 Chronicles 12:18

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts "Maon"
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