1 Samuel 25:39-42

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:39

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:40

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:41

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:42

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:39

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:36-44

Contrasts, patience, and domestic ties. The facts are— 1 . Abigail, finding Nabal in the midst of a drunken revel, refrains from speaking of her interview with David. 2 . In the morning, on her relating what had transpired, he became insensible, and soon after dies. 3 . On hearing of his death David recognises afresh the mercy that had restrained him, and sees the wisdom of leaving judgment to the Lord. 4 . David, deprived of his wife Michal, though possessed of Ahinoam,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:39-42

Hath pleaded the cause of my reproach. In the causes tried at the gate of an Israelite city the friends of the accused both pleaded his cause, defended him from wrong, and punished any who had wronged him. So God had avenged David, while preventing him by Abigail s interference from avenging himself (see 1 Samuel 24:13 ). As a widow's legal mourning seems to have lasted only seven days, David, on hearing of Nabal's death, sent messengers to Abigail at Carmel to ask her in marriage. He was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 25:40

There is no note of the exact interval that elapsed between Nabal’s death and David’s hearing of it, or, again, between David’s hearing of it and his message to Abigail; nor is there any reason to suppose that the marriage took place with unbecoming haste. The widow of such a husband as Nabal had been could not, however, be expected to revere his memory. After the usual mourning of seven days, she would probably feel herself free to act as custom allowed. (See 2 Samuel 11:26.) read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 25:39

1 Samuel 25:39. Blessed, &c. This was another instance of human infirmity in David. David sent But this doubtless was not done immediately after Nabal’s death, but some time after it; though such circumstances be commonly omitted in the sacred history, which gives only the heads and most important passages of things. read more

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