1 Samuel 25:3-13

3 nomen autem viri illius erat Nabal et nomen uxoris eius Abigail eratque mulier illa prudentissima et speciosa porro vir eius durus et pessimus et malitiosus erat autem de genere Chaleb

4 cum ergo audisset David in deserto quod tonderet Nabal gregem suum

5 misit decem iuvenes et dixit eis ascendite in Carmelum et venietis ad Nabal et salutabitis eum ex nomine meo pacifice

6 et dicetis sic fratribus meis et tibi pax et domui tuae pax et omnibus quaecumque habes sit pax

7 audivi quod tonderent pastores tui qui erant nobiscum in deserto numquam eis molesti fuimus nec aliquando defuit eis quicquam de grege omni tempore quo fuerunt nobiscum in Carmelo

8 interroga pueros tuos et indicabunt tibi nunc ergo inveniant pueri gratiam in oculis tuis in die enim bona venimus quodcumque invenerit manus tua da servis tuis et filio tuo David

9 cumque venissent pueri David locuti sunt ad Nabal omnia verba haec ex nomine David et siluerunt

10 respondens autem Nabal pueris David ait quis est David et quis est filius Isai hodie increverunt servi qui fugiunt dominos suos

11 tollam ergo panes meos et aquas meas et carnes pecorum quae occidi tonsoribus meis et dabo viris quos nescio unde sint

12 regressi sunt itaque pueri David per viam suam et reversi venerunt et nuntiaverunt ei omnia verba quae dixerat

13 tunc David ait viris suis accingatur unusquisque gladio suo et accincti sunt singuli gladio suo accinctusque est et David ense suo et secuti sunt David quasi quadringenti viri porro ducenti remanserunt ad sarcinas

1 Samuel 25:3-13 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.