1 Samuel 25:28-38

28 Please forgive your servant's offense, for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord ^[a] because he fights the Lord's battles. Throughout your life, may evil^[b] not be found in you.

29 "When someone pursues you and attempts to take your life, my lord's life will be tucked safely in the place^[c] where the Lord your God protects the living. However, He will fling away your enemies' lives like [stones] from a sling.

30 When the Lord does for my lord all the good He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel,

31 there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord's revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember [me] your servant."

32 Then David said to Abigail, "Praise to the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today!

33 Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.

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^[d] 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^[e] and very drunk, so she didn't say anything^[f] to him until morning light.

37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up,^[g] his wife told him about these events. Then he had a seizure^[h] and became paralyzed.^[i]

38 About 10 days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.

1 Samuel 25:28-38 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.

Footnotes

• [a] 1 Sm 2:35
• [b] Or trouble
• [c] Lit bundle
• [d] Lit had anyone urinating against a wall
• [e] Lit Nabal's heart was good on him
• [f] Lit anything small or great
• [g] Lit when the wine had gone out of Nabal
• [h] Lit Then his heart died within him
• [i] Lit became a stone