1 Samuel 25:1-26:25 NIV

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1

DRASTIC CHANGES IN DAVID'S SITUATIONThe changes referred to in our title of this chapter include (1) the death of the prophet Samuel, David's truest friend and ally; (2) the increasing difficulty of providing supplies for his growing band of followers; (3) the renewal of Saul's efforts to hunt him down and kill him; (4) his withdrawal to the wilderness of Paran; and (5) his acquisition of Nabal's estate through marriage to Abigail.THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF SAMUEL"Now Samuel died; and all Israel... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1

1 Samuel 25:1. And Samuel died— This great prophet was in the ninety-seventh or ninety-eighth year of his age: he had ruled sixteen, or, as others think, twenty years before the reign of Saul, and judged the Israelites, that is, was their principal judge, for about forty years after. No wonder that so righteous a ruler, and so just a judge, should be universally lamented, especially when the wisdom and equity of his government, compared with Saul's tyranny and extravagancies, made his memory... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1

1. Samuel died—After a long life of piety and public usefulness, he left behind him a reputation which ranks him among the greatest of Scripture worthies. buried him in his house at Ramah—that is, his own mausoleum. The Hebrews took as great care to provide sepulchers anciently as people do in the East still, where every respectable family has its own house of the dead. Often this is in a little detached garden, containing a small stone building (where there is no rock), resembling a house,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 25:1

The death of Samuel 25:1Samuel’s years of being a blessing to all Israel ended at this time. David took his place as God’s major channel of blessing to the nation. It is appropriate that the notice of Samuel’s death occurs here since Saul had just admitted publicly that David would be Israel’s next king (1 Samuel 24:20). Samuel’s ministry of providing a transition to the monarchy had therefore ended. People all over Israel mourned Samuel’s death. Samuel was the last of the judges. David would... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

Death of Samuel. The Incident of Nabal. David and Abigail1. Paran] That part of the desert between Sinai and Palestine which bordered on Judah.2. Possessions] rather, ’occupation,’ ’business.’ Carmel] see on 1 Samuel 15:12. Great] has frequently the meaning of ’rich’: cp. 2 Samuel 19:32.Shearing his sheep] A special occasion for festivity and entertainment: cp. 1 Samuel 25:36; 2 Samuel 13:23.Of the house of Caleb] This district of the S. of Judah had been conquered and settled by Caleb. It is... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 25:1

(1) And Samuel died.—At this period—namely, about the time when Saul and David met at En-gedi—died Samuel, full of years and honour—perhaps rather than honours, for a long time the old prophet had lived apart from the court, and alienated from the king he had chosen and anointed. Since Moses, none so great as Samuel had arisen. Briefly to recapitulate his work: his influence had in great measure restored the Law of Moses to the affections of the people. Before his time, the words and traditions... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

CHAPTER XXXII.DAVID AND NABAL.1 Samuel 25:1-44.WE should be forming far too low an estimate of the character of the people of Israel if we did not believe that they were very profoundly moved by the death of Samuel. Even admitting that but a small proportion of them are likely to have been in warm sympathy with his ardent godliness, he was too remark- able a man, and he had been too conspicuous a figure in the history of the nation, not to be greatly missed, and much spoken of and thought of,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

CHAPTER 25 1. The death of Samuel (1 Samuel 25:1 ) 2. Nabal and his refusal (1 Samuel 25:2-13 ) 3. Abigail’s deed and her prayer (1 Samuel 25:14-31 ) 4. David’s answer to Abigail (1 Samuel 25:32-35 ) 5. Nabal’s death (1 Samuel 25:36-38 ) 6. Abigail becomes David’s wife (1 Samuel 25:39-44 ) After the death of Samuel, briefly mentioned in the beginning of this chapter, David went still further south into the wilderness of Paran. An interesting story, the story of Nabal and Abigail,... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1

25:1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his {a} house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.(a) That is, among his own kindred. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

David's moral victory over Saul and over his own natural instincts has been most admirable. However, in this chapter we see him showing just the opposite attitude. It seems hardly possible that this can be the same man. We are told first of Samuel's death, which involves a significant change in Israel. David no longer had the steadying influence of this man of God over him. All Israel mourned his death, for they no longer enjoyed his godly influence. But changes are inevitable, each succeeding... read more