1Samuel dieth: David goeth to Paran. 2The characters of Nabal and Abigail. 4David sendeth a message to Nabal. 10Provoked by Nabal's churlish answer, he setteth forth to destroy him. 14Abigail is informed thereof: 18she meeteth David with a present, and entreateth his pardon. 32David blesseth God and her for so timely an interposition, and dismisseth her courteously. 36Nabal, stricken with her relation of the matter, dieth. 39David again blesseth God, and marrieth Abigail and Ahinoam. 44His wife Michal is given to Phalti.
1ANDa Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And 1David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
a 1 Sam. 28:3.
1 As long as Samuel lived, David sought to him for comfort and counsel, therefore he abode as near to him as he could or might do, but when Samuel was dead, David departed to the wilderness of Paran, which is situated on the south side of Canaan. See concerning Paran the annotation on Gen. 14:6.
2And there was a man in 2Maon, whose possessions were in 3Carmel; and the man was very 4great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
2 Concerning this place, situated in the tribe of Judah, see the annotation on Joshua 15:55.
3 This mountain, with the city and region, is to be distinguished from the other situated in the tribe of Issachar, renowned in respect of the prophet Elijah: see 1 Kings 18 on verse 19 and 1 Sam. 15 on verse 12.
4 That is, rich, wealthy, great in power; as 2 Sam. 19:32.
3Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlishb and evil in his doings; and he was of the 5house of Caleb.
b harsh, ill-tempered
5 That is, (as it is thought) of Caleb’s posterity. Compare 1 Sam. 30:14 with the annotation.
4¶And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
5And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and 6greet him in my name:
6 Hebr. ask of peace, that is, ask how he is doing.
6And thus shall ye say to him that 7liveth in prosperity, 8Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
7 Hebr. living; that is, who lives merrily or prosperously. Compare the salutation used toward kings: God save the king, 1 Sam. 10:24, etc.
8 Hebr. thou peace, that is, to thee be peace, as 2 Sam. 17:3; 20:9.
7And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we 9hurt them not, 10neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
9 Or, scorned them not, made them not ashamed.
10 That is, in the counting of their sheep which were committed to their trust and keeping, there was not any missing or wanting, which they needed to have sought after; so also verses 15 and 21.
8Ask 11thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore 12let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come 13in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to 14thine hand unto thy servants, and to 15thy son David.
11 That is, your shepherds and servants who were with your sheep.
12 They relate David’s words; therefore they spoke of themselves as of a third person. As if they would say: Let us, who are the young men or servants of David, and sent by him to you, find grace and favor with you.
13 That is, on a merry day, because you do now receive and gather the wool of your sheep; it is therefore just and equal, that you, out of your superfluity and abundance, would communicate something to the distressed and persecuted ones, according to the law, Deut. 12:12; 14:26, 29; 15:7.
14 That is, any present or gift, as much, and whatever you are pleased to give us. See Judges 9 on verse 33.
15 As if he would say: Who honors you as a son does his father.
9And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and 16ceased.
16 Hebr. they rested, that is, they kept their peace and were silent to hear what Nabal would answer.
10¶And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days 17that break away every man from his master.
17 That is, who ran away from and forsook their lords or masters. In this manner he upbraids David, as if he lifted himself up against his lord Saul.
11Shall I then take my bread, and my 18water, and 19my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
18 In that region water was hard to come by. The land where Nabal dwelt was a dry land; so that for and in respect of water, there often happened strife and contention in those parts. See Gen. 21:25; 26:15.
19 Hebr. my slaying which I have slain.
12So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told 20him all those sayings.
20 Namely, David.
13And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the 21stuff.
21 Hebr. vessels, that is, stuff, baggage, tools or carriage; as 1 Sam. 17:22.
14¶But 22one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness 23to salute our master; and he 24railedc on them.
22 Namely, one of Nabal’s servants.
23 That is, to bless, and to wish much happiness, as Gen. 31:55.
24 The Hebrew word here used is by similitude taken from a bird of prey, which violently and swiftly falls upon a carcass, to rent it in pieces. So, he would say, has Nabal treated and sent away David’s messengers with biting and spiteful words, snarling at them, as if he would have bitten them in pieces.
c insult, blaspheme*
15But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversantd with them, when we were in the fields:
d dwelling with
1625They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
25 As if they would say: Not only have they not hurt us themselves, but they have likewise kept and protected us from others, both thieves and wild beasts that might have done us mischief.
17Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a 26son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
26 See Deut. 13 on verse 13.
18¶Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep 27ready dressed, and five 28measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
27 Hebr. made.
28 Hebr. seïm. See Gen. 18 on verse 6.
19And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
20And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the coverte of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and 29she met them.
e cover, shelter, hiding place*
29 The text intimates, that David and Abigail met one another unawares, the one coming from this, and the other from that side of the mountain.
21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that 30this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
30 Namely, Nabal. He counts him not worthy to call him by his name, because of the great incivility and unthankfulness, which he used towards him.
2231So and more also 32do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave 33of all that pertain to him by the morning light any 34that pisseth against the wall.
31 See the annotation on Ruth 1:17 concerning this phrase.
32 That is, God grant that all David’s enemies may fare so as I intend to do to this Nabal. Although some conceive that David, instead of saying God do this or that to me, wished the evil to befall his enemies, which some are wont to wish to themselves by rashly cursing themselves. Compare 1 Sam. 20 on verse 16.
33 Or, of all that he hath.
34 A manner of speaking whereby is implied a total ruin and destruction of a house, so that no man be left, or escape, not so much as a dog that commonly pisses against that wall; likewise also verse 34; 1 Kings 14:10; 2 Kings 9:8.
23And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
24And 35fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon 36me let this iniquity be: and let 37thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
35 As a sign of humble reverence. See the like, 2 Kings 4:27.
36 As if she had said: Punish me instead of mine husband and all the rest, whom thou didst intend to punish.
37 That is, me.
25Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; 38Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of 39my lord, whom thou didst send.
38 That is, fool, sot; one who is void of wisdom and goodness.
39 That is, thine.
26Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as 40thy soul liveth, 41seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming 42to shed blood, and 43from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be 44as Nabal.
40 See 2 Kings 2 on verse 2.
41 Namely, when He sent me to meet thee, to pacify thine anger with courteous words and presents, and to stop and hinder thine evil intent and purpose.
42 Hebr. with bloods, as verse 33; Gen. 4:10.
43 Namely, that thou camest not to avenge thyself with thine own hand against my wicked husband, and deliver thyself from the affront that he hath inflicted thee.
44 As if she would say, I wish that thine enemies may prevail as little, and may be as base and contemptible men as Nabal is, who is not worthy that thou shouldest thus vex thyself about him, much less that thou shouldest destroy me, and my whole family, for his sake. Others understand those words thus: I wish it may befall thine enemies as it would befall Nabal, if thou wouldest persevere in thine intent.
27And now 45this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men 46that follow my lord.
45 That is, this is the present, which thou, by thy servants sent by thee, didst ask of Nabal, verse 8.
46 Hebr. who go by or at my lord’s feet, that is, who follow him.
28I pray thee, 47forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord 48a sure house; because my lord fighteth the 49battles of the LORD, and 50evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
47 As if she would say, I take the guilt and punishment of my wicked husband upon myself, but grant pardon to me for them, for this I pray thee.
48 That is, that thou shalt dwell and reign quietly and peaceably, and shall no longer need to flee from one place to another, as thou must so do now.
49 See the annotation 1 Sam. 18:17.
50 This is here properly to be understood of self-revenge or other great transgressions; as if she would say, in this respect I hope thou wilt not begin now to do it.
29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the 51soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out 52of the middle of a sling.
51 This is a phrase taken from men, who bind the thing which they count precious, and desire to keep safe, in a bundle, and lock it up. It is as if she had said: Thy life shall not be taken from thee, for thou shalt be in the Almighty’s keeping. Saul shall pursue thee in vain. On the contrary those wicked ones, who pursue thee, shall be scattered and slung away, as if they were thrown out with a sling, and cast away.
52 Or, in, namely, being. As if the soul, like a stone, lay in the sling.
30And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
3153That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then 54remember thine handmaid.
53 As if she had said: Then shalt thou neither have a gnawing conscience, nor grief of mind, that thou hast avenged thyself with the shedding of innocent blood.
54 As if she would say: When thou shalt hereafter think on this, that I have been the means or instrument to stop and hinder thee from shedding innocent blood, then thou wilt yet thank me for it.
32¶And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
33And blessed be 55thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming 56to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
55 Namely, the counsel, which thou hast taken to dissuade and hinder me by this thy coming and courtesy from shedding innocent blood.
56 As verse 26.
34For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting 57thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
57 Understand additionally: and all thy family, as I had rashly sworn in mine wrath, verse 22.
35So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and 58have accepted thy person.
58 That is, I have taken thee into favour, and will do what thou requirest. See the annotations on Gen. 19:21 and 32:20.
36¶And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held 59a feast in his house, 60like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was 61merry 62within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
59 See similar in 2 Sam. 13:23.
60 Nabal did like that rich man, Luke 16:19, forgetting the poor and needy people.
61 Hebr. good.
62 Namely, feast. Other, in him.
37But it came to pass in the morning, 63when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him 64these things, 65that his heart died within him, and 66he became as a stone.
63 That is, when he had slept his drunkenness quite away. As long as he continued in his drunkenness, her admonitions would have been as roses strewed before the hogs, or pearls cast before swine.
64 Namely, which he had spoken; what she had said unto David; what David had answered her again, etc.
65 That is, he was so affrighted, that he almost fell down dead.
66 Hebr. he became a stone, that is, he became without any feeling, his blood changed in his body, understanding the danger, into which he had brought himself.
38And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
39¶And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath 67kept 68his servant 69from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and 70communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
67 Other, kept back.
68 That is, me.
69 Or, from that evil deed, namely, that I would have shed innocent blood out of a desire of self-revenge.
70 Namely, by his messengers, and after that Nabal had been dead a good while.
40And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
41And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and 71said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant 72to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
71 Namely, unto David, though absent, desiring his messengers to relate these words of hers unto him, and to tell David in her name.
72 That is, to do the slightest and lowest service.
42And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers 73that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
73 Other, who followed her feet.
43David also took Ahinoam of 74Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
74 This was a city in the tribe of Judah, as appears Joshua 15:56.
44¶Butf75Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to 76Phalti the son of Laish, which was of 77Gallim.
f 2 Sam. 3:15.
75 In this act Saul, Michal, and Phalti sinned and did ill, breaking and violating the lawful marriage of Michal with David.
76 He is called Phaltiel in 2 Sam. 3:15.
77 This seems to have been located in the tribe of Benjamin, not far from Gibeah of Saul. See Isa. 10:30.