1 Samuel 25:25-27

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 25:25

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:18-31

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:23-25

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:26-27

Abigail begins her appeal by affirming that it was Jehovah who thus made her come to prevent bloodshed; she next propitiates David with the prayer that his enemies may be as Nabal, insignificant fools; and finally asks him to accept her present, not for himself,—that would be too great an honour,—but as good enough only for his followers. The first of these affirmations is obscured by the rendering in the A.V and should be translated, "And now, my lord (an ordinary title of respect, like our ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 25:26

The passage should be rendered as follows: “And now my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth,” it is “the Lord” that “hath withholden thee from coming” into blood-guiltiness (as in 1 Samuel 25:33), “and from saving thyself with thine own hand;” and “now” all “thine enemies” shall be as Nabal (whom she considers as utterly impotent to hurt David, and as already thoroughly humbled before him), and (so shall be) all “that seek evil to my Lord.” read more

Joseph Benson

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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 25:26

1 Samuel 25:26 . Seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood Nothing could possibly be spoken to David with more effect, to turn away his wrath, than thus to insinuate such an opinion of his goodness and clemency, as already to conclude she had diverted him from his purpose; or, rather, that God had interposed by his good providence to hinder him from shedding blood. Now let thine enemies be as Nabal Let them be as contemptible as Nabal is, and will be for this odious... read more

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