1 Samuel 25:13-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:21

Now David had said ,.... When the messengers returned and told him how they had been used by Nabal; or he "said" F3 אמר "ait", V. L. "dixit", Pagninus, Montanus; "dicebat", Vatablus. , or was saying within himself, or to his men, what follows, just as Abigail met him: surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness ; which shows that lie was in a violent passion, and had Nabal in the utmost contempt and indignation, in that he mentions not his name, only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:22

So and more also do God unto the enemies of David ,.... Give them as much health and prosperity, as much wealth and riches, as Nabal has, and much more: if I leave of all that pertain to him, by the morning light, any that pisseth against the wall ; which is generally understood of a dog, that he, would not leave him so much as a dog: but it is better, with Ben Gersom, to interpret it of the males in his house, himself, his sons, and servants; and so the Targum paraphrases it of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:18

Took two hundred loaves - The Eastern bread is ordinarily both thin and small; and answers to our cakes. Two bottles of wine - That is, two goat-skins full. The hide is pulled off the animal without ripping up; the places where the legs, etc., were are sewed up, and then the skin appears one large bag. This is properly the Scripture and Eastern bottle. There is one such before me. Five sheep - Not one sheep to one hundred men. Clusters of raisins - Raisins dried... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:20

She came down - and David - came down - David was coming down Mount Paran; Abigail was coming down from Carmel. - Calmet. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:22

So and more also do God - Nothing can justify this part of David's conduct. Whatever his provocation might have been, he had suffered, properly speaking, no wrongs; and his resolution to cut off a whole innocent family, because Nabal had acted ungenerously towards him, was abominable and cruel, not to say diabolic. He who attempts to vindicate this conduct of David is, at least constructively, a foe to God and truth. David himself condemns this most rash and unwarrantable conduct,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:12-13

Gird ye on, etc. David's determination was fierce and violent. No doubt Nabal's insult irritated him, and possibly also the rude outlaws round him would have protested against any other course; but Nabal's words, rude though they were, would not justify David in the rough vengeance which he meditated. Abigail throughout her speech argues that David was taking too violent a course, and one for which he would afterwards have been sorry. ABIGAIL PACIFIES DAVID ( 1 Samuel 25:14-35 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:13-17

Creed and practice. The facts are— 1 . David, stung by the insult, prepares to take summary vengeance on Nabal. 2 . A servant, overhearing his intention, reports it to Abigail. 3 . He also relates to her the circumstances of David's kindness to Nabal's men, and appeals to her for intervention, as he has no faith in Nabal's wisdom or generosity. The course taken by David would ordinarily be termed natural for an Eastern chieftain; that of the servant was more considerate than... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:14-17

One of the young men. Hebrew, "a lad of the lads," i.e. one of the servants (see on the word 1 Samuel 1:24 ); when used in this sense it has no reference to age (see 1 Samuel 2:17 ). This man was probably some old and confidential servitor. To salute. Hebrew, "to bless" (see 1 Samuel 13:10 ; 2 Kings 4:29 ). He railed on them. Literally, "flew upon them like a bird of prey." We were not hurt. Literally, "not put to shame" (see on 1 Samuel 25:7 ). The language of a people... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:18-20

Five measures of parched corn. The measure named here, the seah, contains about a peck and a half. As this seems little, Ewald reads 500 seahs, but probably it was regarded as a delicacy. Clusters of raisins. Rather, as in the margin, lumps of raisins. The bunches of grapes when dried were pressed into cakes. Sending her servants in front leading the asses which carried the present, she followed behind, and met David as she was coming down by the covert of the hill. Hebrew, "in secret of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:18-31

Wise persuasiveness. The facts are— 1 . Abigail, aware of the danger, provides an ample present, and secretly sends on her servants to prepare the mind of David for an interview. 2 . On seeing David she humbly seeks an audience, and intimates that Nabal was not to be regarded as of importance. 3 . She pleads her cause by reminding David of the kind restraint of Providence in keeping him from wrong, of Nabal's utter unworthiness of his notice, of the provision made for the young... read more

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