And it came to pass, about ten days after ,.... After he had lain in this stupid and senseless manner for ten days: that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died ; with some disease or increased the grief of his heart, and the fears of his mind that he died therewith. read more
And when David heard that Nabal was dead ,.... As he soon might, Maon and Carmel not being far from the wilderness where David was: he said, blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal ; not that he rejoiced at the death of Nabal, simply considered, or from a private spirit of revenge; but because of the glory of divine justice, which he had shown to him in vindicating him from the reproach Nabal had cast upon him, and particularly was... read more
And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel ,.... For though Nabal lived in Maon, yet having possessions in Camel, he had no doubt an house there also; and here Abigail was, and perhaps chose to be after his death, rather than at Maon: they spake unto her ; delivered the message to her they were sent with by David: saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife ; that is, to treat with her about his marriage to her, to propose it to her, and, if they... read more
And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth ,.... As she did before David, 1 Samuel 25:23 ; and did as she would have done had he been present, considering his messengers as representing him and therefore showed the same respect and reverence and did the same honour, as if he had been there in person: and said ; expressed herself in such language as if David had been before her: behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord ... read more
And Abigail hasted and arose ,.... She had no objection nor hesitation in her mind about marrying David but at once consented, and immediately prepared for her journey, having as high an opinion, and as great an esteem of David, as he of her; and though she was rich and he peer this was no obstacle in the way, she knew and believed he would be king of Israel, 1 Samuel 25:30 ; and though he could not support her, she had enough to support herself, and supply him, till he came to the throne:... read more
And David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel ,.... A city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:56 ; that is, he took her to wife, and as it seems before Abigail became his wife; see 2 Samuel 3:2 , and they were also both of them his wives ; polygamy, though not agreeably to the law of nature, nor the law of God, was a custom which prevailed in those times, which good men gave into, though not to be commended for it. read more
To take her to him to wife - It is likely that he had heard before this that Saul, to cut off all his pretensions to the throne, had married Michal to Phalti; and this justified David in taking Abigail or any other woman; and, according to the then custom, it was not unlawful for David to take several wives. By his marriage with Abigail, it is probable he became possessed of all Nabal's property in Carmel and Maon. read more
David also took Ahinoam - Many think that this was his wife before he took Abigail; she is always mentioned first in the list of his wives, and she was the mother of his eldest son Ammon. Of Jezreel - There were two places of this name; one in the tribe of Issachar, the other in the tribe of Judah. read more
For he was very drunken. Hebrew, "and he was very drunken." This was not the cause of his heart being merry, but the result; he gave himself up to enjoyment till he became drunken, and then his merriment was over. When Abigail came back he was stupefied by drink, and it was not until the next day, when his debauch was passing off, that he was capable of being told what his wife had done. And when Abigail recounted to him David's fierce resolve, and how she had pacified him, he seems to have... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:36-44
We are now to attend Nabal's funeral and Abigail's wedding. I. Nabal's funeral. The apostle speaks of some that were twice dead, Jude 1:12. We have hare Nabal thrice dead, though but just now wonderfully rescued from the sword of David and delivered from so great a death; for the preservations of wicked men are but reservations for some further sorer strokes of divine wrath. Here is, 1. Nabal dead drunk, 1 Sam. 25:36. Abigail came home, and, it should seem, he had so many people and so much... read more