1 Samuel 25:14-42 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:12-17

Here is, I. The report made to David of the abuse Nabal had given to his messengers (1 Sam. 25:12): They turned their way. They showed their displeasure, as became them to do, by breaking off abruptly from such a churl, but prudently governed themselves so well as not to render railing for railing, not to call him as he deserved, much less to take by force what ought of right to have been given them, but came and told David that he might do as he thought fit. Christ's servants, when they are... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:32-35

As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear, Prov. 25:12. Abigail was a wise reprover of David's passion, and he gave an obedient ear to the reproof, according to his own principle (Ps. 141:5): Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness. Never was such an admonition either better given or better taken. I. David gives God thanks for sending him this happy check to a sinful way (1 Sam. 25:32): Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who... read more

Matthew Henry

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 25:14

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife ,.... Not one of David's young men, as what follows shows, but one of Nabal's young men or servants, one of those David directs him to for the truth of what he said, 1 Samuel 25:8 ; this was one of those that had been employed in feeding sheep in the wilderness, where David was, and knew him, but was now at Carmel, and was present when David's messengers came to Nabal, and was privy to what passed: saying, David sent messengers out of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:15

But the men were very good unto us ,.... Very kind and civil, yea, very useful and serviceable, even all the messengers David sent and Nabal railed on, yea, all David's men, and therefore deserved better treatment than they met with from Nabal: and we were not hurt ; neither by them nor others: neither missed we anything : of our flocks, or anything belonging to us; they neither robbed us themselves, nor suffered others to rob us: as long as we were conversant with them, when we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:16

They were a wall unto us both by night and day ,.... Protecting and defending them against the Philistines, who, as they robbed the threshing floors of Keilah, would have plundered the flocks of Nabal; or it may be rather against the incursions of the Arabs in the wilderness of Paran, the posterity of Ishmael, who lived by plunder, and against the wild beasts of the desert, who otherwise would have carried off many of their sheep and lambs, by night or by day: all the while we were with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:17

Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do ,.... For the preservation of her family: for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household ; which he concluded, either from something that dropped from David's messengers, as they turned away from Nabal; or from the martial spirit of David himself, who would never put up such an affront and indignity cast upon him; or from some intelligence he had of David's arming his men, and marching to take vengeance: for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:18

Then Abigail made haste ,.... As the case required, her family being in imminent danger: and took two hundred loaves ; of bread; of what size or weight they were is not said; though it may be reasonably concluded they were pretty large, since they are not called cakes, but loaves, and since they were to be a present to David and his men, who were numerous: and two bottles of wine ; not such as ours are, which would have borne no proportion to the rest of the provision; but these were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:19

And she said to her servants, go on before me ,.... With the present, the sight of which she wisely considered would in a great measure pacify David, and prepare him to hear patiently what she had to say to him: behold, I come after you ; signifying it would not be long before she came up to them, and overtook them: but she told not her husband Nabal ; neither the danger he and his family were in through his conduct, nor the preparations she had made to prevent it; knowing his... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:12-17

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:32-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:36-44

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:19

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