1 Samuel 25:36

36 Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, feasting like a king. Nabal was in a good mood[a] and very drunk, so she didn't say anything[b] to him until morning light.

1 Samuel 25:36 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 25:36

And Abigail came to Nabal
Having sped with David, and taken her leave of him, she returned home to her husband Nabal: and, behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king;
both for the number of dishes on his table and of guests at it though only on the account of sheep shearing; but very probably there were others that were invited to this entertainment besides the shearers; covetous men are generally very profuse when they make feasts: and Nabal's heart [was] merry within him, for he [was] very drunken:
which was a very ill example for the master of the feast to set, and was one instance among others of his folly, and of his conduct answering to his name: wherefore she told him nothing less or more until the morning light;
where she had been, and what she had been about, the danger that he and the whole family were in through his rude and churlish behaviour towards David and his men, and how she had prevented it by a timely application to David, meeting him when in full march, and in a great passion, and with a firm resolution to destroy him and his; but finding Nabal in such a condition, bereaved of his reason, and incapable of attending to what she should say, said not one word about it till the next morning.

1 Samuel 25:36 In-Context

34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn't have had any men left by morning light."
35 Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request."
36 Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, feasting like a king. Nabal was in a good mood and very drunk, so she didn't say anything to him until morning light.
37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. Then he had a seizure and became paralyzed.
38 About 10 days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit Nabal's heart was good on him
  • [b]. Lit anything small or great
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