1 Samuel 25:24-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:18-31

We have here an account of Abigail's prudent management for the preserving of her husband and family from the destruction that was just coming upon them; and we find that she did her part admirably well and fully answered her character. The passion of fools often makes those breaches in a little time which the wise, with all their wisdom, have much ado to make up again. It is hard to say whether Abigail was more miserable in such a husband or Nabal happy in such a wife. A virtuous woman is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:24

And fell at his feet ,.... As an humble supplicant, having a favour to ask of him; it is very probable David was on foot: and said, upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be ; which her husband had been guilty of; she desires it might be transferred from him to her, and be reckoned as if done by her; she would have it imputed to herself, and all the blame lie upon her, and the punishment for it be inflicted on her; for iniquity may be put for the punishment of iniquity: this... read more

John Gill

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

Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial , even Nabal ,.... He is a worthless man, it must be owned, a weak foolish man, rather to be despised than regarded by him; what either he says or does is unworthy of the notice of any, and much less of so great a person as David was: for as his name is , so is he ; his natural disposition, genius, and conduct, agree with his name; when anyone knows his name, he may judge what is to be expected from him: Nabal is his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:26

Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth ,.... Which is an oath, and respects either what goes before, that she never saw the young men that were sent to Nabal, or to what follows, the providence of God in preventing David from shedding blood, which she was sure of by an impulse on her own mind, and by observing a change in David's countenance: seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:27

And now this blessing, which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord ,.... The present, consisting of the things mentioned in 1 Samuel 25:18 ; which came as a blessing from God, and with good will from her: let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord ; the servants of David: in the original it is, "that walk at the feet of my lord": and which the Targum paraphrases, "who minister before my lord"; and so Abigail's damsels are called "pedissequae", or "that walked at her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:28

I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid ,.... The trespasses, as the Targum, either the sin of her husband, she had taken upon herself, or her boldness in troubling him with her petitions and solicitations, and even with the present she had brought: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house ; or a firm kingdom, as the Targum; would raise him to the kingdom of Israel, and establish it in his posterity, that it should not be taken from him, as it would be from Saul:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:29

Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul ,.... His life, to take it away, meaning Saul, whom she chose not to name, because he was king: but the soul of my lord shall be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God ; should be dear unto the Lord, precious in his esteem, and be carefully preserved by him, among other his chosen ones, and should be safe with him, in his hands, and under his care and keeping; the Jews refer this to eternal life in the world to come,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:30

And 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 ,.... Performed his promise, especially with respect to his kingdom, as follows: and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel ; that is, actually raised him to be, and settled him as king upon the throne of Israel; for he was both appointed and anointed already; and this Abigail knew, and was now well known in Israel, and the common talk of the people. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:31

This shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord ,.... It would give him no trouble, nor distress of mind, or sit uneasy on his conscience: either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself ; which she suggests it might do, if he had shed the blood of Nabal's family, his children and servants, who were no ways concerned with him in his rudeness and ingratitude; or had avenged himself on him for the same, by taking away his life, which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:28

And evil hath not been found in thee - Thou hast not committed any act of this kind hitherto. read more

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