1 Samuel 25:14-17

A servant’s appeal to Abigail 25:14-17

Nabal’s servant appealed to Abigail to reverse Nabal’s orders. He testified that God had blessed Nabal’s shepherds greatly through David. David’s soldiers had been a wall of protection for them (1 Samuel 25:16). One of the characteristics of a fool is that he or she does not listen to other people (1 Samuel 25:17). Nabal was such a fool that he did not even listen to God. If he had, he would have known that David was the Lord’s anointed servant (cf. 1 Samuel 25:30).

The Hebrew words for "good" and "evil" each occur seven times in chapter 25 (1 Samuel 25:3; 1 Samuel 25:8; 1 Samuel 25:15; 1 Samuel 25:21; 1 Samuel 25:30-31; 1 Samuel 25:36; 1 Samuel 25:3; 1 Samuel 25:17; 1 Samuel 25:21; 1 Samuel 25:26; 1 Samuel 25:34; 1 Samuel 25:39 [twice]). [Note: Gunn, p. 96.]

"Together they underscore one of the major themes of the story: Good brings its own reward, while evil recoils on the head of the wicked." [Note: Youngblood, p. 753.]