1 Samuel 25:20-28

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 25:20

And it was so, as she rode on the ass ,.... After her servants: that she came down, by the covert of the hill ; by the side of it, which was covered with bushes, and she rode among them, in a way that led through them, and so was not seen by David and his men; or by the shadow of the hill, toward the bottom of it, where by reason of that, and the opposite hill, it was darkish, and they could not see each other: and, behold, David and his men came down against her ; came down a hill... read more

John Gill

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:23

And when Abigail saw David ,.... Whom she either knew personally, or rather supposed who he was by the number of men that followed him: she hasted, and alighted off the ass ; on which she rode: and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground ; in respect to, and reverence of, so great a person as David was. 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

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