1 Samuel 25:10-13

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, 1"Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? 2There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.
11 Shall I take 3my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to 4men who come from I do not know where?"
12 So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this.
13 And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And 5about four hundred men went up after David, 6while two hundred 7remained with the baggage.

1 Samuel 25:10-13 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.

Cross References 7

  • 1. [Judges 9:28]
  • 2. [Judges 12:4]
  • 3. [Judges 8:6]
  • 4. [1 Samuel 22:2]
  • 5. 1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Samuel 27:2; [1 Samuel 22:2]
  • 6. 1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Samuel 27:2; [1 Samuel 22:2]
  • 7. 1 Samuel 30:24
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.