1 Samuel 25:39-44

David Marries Abigail

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has 1pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and 2has kept back His servant from evil. The LORD has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent 3a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife.
40 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, "David has sent us to you to take you as his wife."
41 She arose 4and bowed with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your maidservant is a maid 5to wash the feet of my lord's servants."
42 Then 6Abigail quickly arose, and rode on a donkey, with her five maidens who attended * her; and she followed * the messengers of David and became his wife.
43 David had also taken Ahinoam of 7Jezreel, and 8they both * became his wives.
44 Now Saul had given 9Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from 10Gallim.

1 Samuel 25:39-44 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 10

  • 1. 1 Samuel 24:15; Proverbs 22:23
  • 2. 1 Samuel 25:26, 34
  • 3. Song of Songs 8:8
  • 4. 1 Samuel 25:23
  • 5. Mark 1:7
  • 6. Genesis 24:61-67
  • 7. Joshua 15:56
  • 8. 1 Samuel 27:3; 1 Samuel 30:5
  • 9. 1 Samuel 18:27; 2 Samuel 3:14
  • 10. Isaiah 10:30

Footnotes 2

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