1 Samuel 25:11, 1 Samuel 25:2, 1 Samuel 25:36 NASB

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 25:11

(11) Unto men, whom I know not.—In other words, “Shall I give largesse to the enemies of my king—to a band of rebel freebooters?”My water.—The LXX., instead of “water,” read “wine.” This is one of the countless alterations this version arbitrarily makes in the original sacred text. The Greek translators were puzzled at Nabal’s enumeration of “water” as one of the demands of David. Its mention, however, is a mark of the accuracy of the record. Water in many parts of the East is exceedingly... 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

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

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

MORE BROKEN PROMISES DAVID AND ABIGAIL (1 Samuel 25:0 ) The romance of this chapter has a setting like this: The Wilderness of Paran on the south was a common pasture like our prairies, and for this reason open to marauders from among the Arabs. David and his men must have been a protection to their countrymen from such incursions, and in the habit of receiving practical acknowledgments of their service. Nabal was a rich sheep owner who must have been indebted to them, and “good business,”... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:9-11

(9) And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. (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 that break away every man from his master. (11) Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? It is evident, that Nabal was no stranger to David's... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:11

Water, under which name all sorts of drinks are included. Nabal had plenty of wine, and was much intoxicated, ver. 36. Septuagint translate, "wine." Syriac and Arabic, "drink." --- Cattle. Hebrew, "victims," which is a term used both for sacred and profane feasts. read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:2-11

2-11 We should not have heard of Nabal, if nothing had passed between him and David. Observe his name, Nabal, "A fool;" so it signifies. Riches make men look great in the eye of the world; but to one that takes right views, Nabal looked very mean. He had no honour or honesty; he was churlish, cross, and ill-humoured; evil in his doings, hard and oppressive; a man that cared not what fraud and violence he used in getting and saving. What little reason have we to value the wealth of this world,... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Samuel 25:1-13

Nabal's Foolishness v. 1. And Samuel died, his death taking place at about this critical time in the history of Israel; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah, the entire nation thus honoring him as a great prophet, whose rule had been a blessing for Israel. And David arose, and went down to the Wilderness of Paran, the northern end of the Arabian desert. v. 2. And there was a man in Maon, 1 Samuel 23:24, a city southeast of... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

VII. Samuel’s death. David’s march into the wilderness of Paran. The history of the foolish Nabal and the wise Abigail1 Samuel 25:1-441And Samuel died; and all the Israelites [Israel] were gathered together, and lamented him and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose and went down1 to the wilderness of Paran.22And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel. And the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats; and Hebrews 3:0 was shearing3... read more