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
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
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
Wise persuasiveness. The facts are— 1 . Abigail, aware of the danger, provides an ample present, and secretly sends on her servants to prepare the mind of David for an interview. 2 . On seeing David she humbly seeks an audience, and intimates that Nabal was not to be regarded as of importance. 3 . She pleads her cause by reminding David of the kind restraint of Providence in keeping him from wrong, of Nabal's utter unworthiness of his notice, of the provision made for the young... read more
Abigail … fell before David on her face. This very abject obeisance may have been grounded on her belief in David's future kingship, or it may simply mark the inferior position held by women in those days (see 1 Samuel 25:41 ). Her whole address is couched in very humble terms. David ( 1 Samuel 24:8 ) only stooped with his face to the ground before Saul. Upon me. Abigail represents herself as the person really guilty, on whom the iniquity , i.e. the punishment of the offence, must... read more
1 Samuel 25:24. Upon me, my lord, let this iniquity be, &c. Impute Nabal’s sin to me; and, if thou pleasest, punish it in me, who here offer myself as a sacrifice to thy just indignation. This whole speech of Abigail shows great wisdom. By an absolute submitting to mercy, without any pretence of justification of what was done, (but rather with aggravation of it,) she endeavours to work upon David’s generosity, to pardon it. And there is hardly any head of argument, whence the greatest... read more
1 Samuel 25:25. Let not my lord regard this man of Belial, &c. She represents him as a man that offended out of folly, rather than malice; which might in some degree excuse his rudeness. For as his name is, so is he Nabal in the Hebrew signifies a fool, though not one by nature, but rather through pride and insolence. read more
David marries Abigail (25:1-44)At this point we are told that Samuel died (25:1). David, at the time, was having trouble supporting his six hundred men. It seems that his men provided protection for farmers against the raiding Philistines (see v. 16, 21), and then demanded that the farmers pay them by giving them food supplies (see v. 8, 18, 27, 35). One wealthy farmer, Nabal, refused to pay and insulted David. Furious at Nabal’s response, David set out with four hundred of his men to deal with... read more
iniquity . Hebrew ' avah. App-44 . read more
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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