1 Samuel 25:19

19 dixitque pueris suis praecedite me ecce ego post tergum sequar vos viro autem suo Nabal non indicavit

1 Samuel 25:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 25:19

And she said to her servants, go on before me
With the present, the sight of which she wisely considered would in a great measure pacify David, and prepare him to hear patiently what she had to say to him:

behold, I come after you;
signifying it would not be long before she came up to them, and overtook them:

but she told not her husband Nabal;
neither the danger he and his family were in through his conduct, nor the preparations she had made to prevent it; knowing his perverse and obstinate disposition, that it would take up too much time to reason with him, and persuade him, and bring him into proper measures; and which may be observed to excuse the conduct of Abigail in doing what she did, and taking and disposing of her husband's gods, without his knowledge and leave; the case required haste, and it was done to preserve him and his family from imminent ruin; and besides, he might not be in a fit condition to be spoken to, being drunk with passion, or with wine, or both, see ( 1 Samuel 25:36 ) ; and no doubt she was directed by the Spirit of God to do what she did; and this being an extraordinary case, is not to be drawn into an example.

1 Samuel 25:19 In-Context

17 quam ob rem considera et recogita quid facias quoniam conpleta est malitia adversum virum tuum et adversus domum tuam et ipse filius est Belial ita ut nemo ei possit loqui
18 festinavit igitur Abigail et tulit ducentos panes et duos utres vini et quinque arietes coctos et quinque sata pulentae et centum ligaturas uvae passae et ducentas massas caricarum et inposuit super asinos
19 dixitque pueris suis praecedite me ecce ego post tergum sequar vos viro autem suo Nabal non indicavit
20 cum ergo ascendisset asinum et descenderet ad radices montis David et viri eius descendebant in occursum eius quibus et illa occurrit
21 et ait David vere frustra servavi omnia quae huius erant in deserto et non periit quicquam de cunctis quae ad eum pertinebant et reddidit mihi malum pro bono
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.