1 Samuel 25 Footnotes

25:37-38 How did Nabal die? English Bible versions differ based on the translators’ decisions about how far to pursue a medical diagnosis based on the Hebrew description. The MT in v. 37 reads, literally, “His heart died in his midst, and he became stone.” This could be taken to mean that Nabal experienced a heart attack, became dispirited, had a seizure, or suffered a stroke. Temporary loss of consciousness, paralysis or coma could have followed. Since the Hebrew provides only a description of symptoms, not a diagnosis, most modern versions opt for a reading that closely follows the MT.

25:43 Throughout his lifetime David acquired at least eight wives (2Sm 3:2-5,14-16; 1Ch 3:1-5) and ten concubines (2Sm 15:16), in addition to Saul’s harem (12:8). The Lord did not approve of David’s departure from his plan for marriage. It would have destructive consequences later, when deadly rivalries developed between the women (1Kg 1:1-4; 2:17-25) and families (2Sm 13:1-32; 1Kg 2:24-25) within David’s harem. God’s ideal plan for people from the beginning was for one man to marry one woman, and for the couple to remain in an exclusive sexual relationship for as long as both partners were alive. (On the Bible’s view of polygamy, see note on Ex 21:10.)