1 Samuel 25:1-3

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

We have here a short account of Samuel's death and burial. 1. Though he was a great man, and one that was admirably well qualified for public service, yet he spent the latter end of his days in retirement and obscurity, not because he was superannuated (for he knew how to preside in a college of the prophets, 1 Sam. 19:20), but because Israel had rejected him, for which God thus justly chastised them, and because his desire was to be quiet and to enjoy himself and his God in the exercises of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:2-11

Here begins the story of Nabal. I. A short account of him, who and what he was (1 Sam. 25:2, 3), a man we should never have heard of if there had not happened some communication between him and David. Observe, 1. His name: Nabal?a fool; so it signifies. It was a wonder that his parents would give him that name and an ill omen of what proved to be this character. Yet indeed we all of us deserve to be so called when we come into the world, for man is born like the wild ass's colt and foolishness... read more

John Gill

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

And Samuel died ,.... In the interval, when Saul and David were parted, and before they saw each other again; according to the Jewish chronology F7 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 13. p. 37. , Samuel died four months before Saul; but other Jewish writers say F8 In Kimchi & Abarbinel in loc. he died seven months before; Abarbinel thinks it was a year or two before; which is most likely and indeed certain, since David was in the country of the Philistines after this a full year and four... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:2

And there was a man in Maon ,.... A city of the tribe of Judah, from whence the wilderness had its name before mentioned; of which place, see Joshua 15:55 ; though Ben Gersom takes it to signify a dwelling place; and that this is observed to show, that he did not dwell in a city, but had his habitation where his business lay, which was in Carmel, where his fields, gardens, and vineyards were: wherefore it follows: whose possessions were in Carmel ; not Carmel in the tribe of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:3

Now the name of the man was Nabal ,.... Which signifies a "fool"; one would think his parents should not give him this name, though it is a name proper enough to men in common; and Kimchi thinks this was a nickname, which men gave him agreeably to his genius and conduct, and which is not improbable: and the name of his wife Abigail ; which signifies "my father's joy", he delighting in her for her wit and beauty, as follows: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a... read more

Adam Clarke

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

And Samuel died - Samuel lived, as is supposed, about ninety-eight years; was in the government of Israel before Saul from sixteen to twenty years; and ceased to live, according to the Jews, about four months before the death of Saul; but according to Calmet and others, two years. But all this is very uncertain; how long he died before Saul, cannot be ascertained. For some account of his character, see the end of the chapter, 1 Samuel 25:44 ; (note). Buried him in his house ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:3

The name of the man was Nabal - The word נבל nabal signifies to be foolish, base, or villanous; and hence the Latin word nebulo , knave, is supposed to be derived. The name of his wife Abigail - The joy or exultation of my father. A woman of sense and beauty, married to the boor mentioned above, probably because he was rich. Many women have been thus sacrificed. Of the house of Caleb - כלבי והוא vehu Chalibbi , "he was a Calebite." But as the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:1

EXPOSITION DEATH OF SAMUEL ( 1 Samuel 25:1 ). And Samuel died. According to Josephus, Samuel had for eighteen years been contemporaneous with Saul's kingdom. If this calculation, which probably rests upon some Jewish tradition, be at all correct, we must include the years of Samuel's judgeship in the sum total of Saul's reign (see on 1 Samuel 13:1 ), as evidently his fall was now fast approaching. Samuel's life marked the beginning of the second age of Israelite history (... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:1

David arose. This is not to be connected with the death of Samuel, as though David had now lost a protector. But as he had fully 600 men with him, and his force was continually increasing, it was necessary for him to roam over a wide extent of country in order to obtain supplies of food. The wilderness of Paran. Paran strictly is a place in the southernmost part of the peninsula of Arabia, a little to the west of Mount Sinai; but there can be little doubt that it gave its name to the vast... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:1-12

Honour to the dead and insult to the living. The facts are— 1 . Samuel dies, and is buried at Ramah amidst the sorrow of Israel. 2 . David, returning to the wilderness, sends a greeting to Nabal, a wealthy man at Carmel, and asks for some favour to his young men on account of the friendly aid recently rendered to Nabal's shepherds. 3 . Nabal, in a churlish spirit, sends an insulting reply, and refuses the request. 4 . Whereupon David resolves on taking revenge for the... read more

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