THE FOLLY OF NABAL (‘FOOL') AND THE WAY THAT YHWH DEALT WITH HIM WHILE PROVIDING FOR DAVID AND HIS MEN THROUGH NABAL'S WIFE (1 SAMUEL 25:1). This is the second of three successive examples in which David reveals his obedience to YHWH in not taking his own vengeance on those who have sinned against... [ Continue Reading ]
THE END OF A PROPHET AND AN INTRODUCTION TO A FOOL (1 SAMUEL 25:1). The death of Samuel introduces a period of folly, possibly in order to bring out what the loss of his influence resulted in. This period commences with the story of Nabal the fool, (‘Nabal is his name and folly is with him' - 1 Sam... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID CONTACTS NABAL IN ORDER TO SHARE IN HIS HOSPITALITY, IS REBUFFED AND INSULTED, AND DECIDES ON VENGEANCE (1 SAMUEL 25:4). In this next passage we are informed about Nabal's incredible and foolish response to the messengers of David, and about Abigail's intention to put matters right. It would... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIGAIL INFORMS NABAL OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND NABAL HAS A HEART ATTACK AND DIES (1 SAMUEL 25:6 B). On receiving news from Abigail about how close they had come to disaster Nabal had a stroke and died, causing David, when he heard of it, to thank YHWH for taking up his cause while keeping him from... [ Continue Reading ]
NABAL'S FOOLISH REPLY. Given the strength of David's band Nabal's reply was foolish in the extreme. Indeed we can only assume that he was not aware of how powerful David's fighting strength was, for it is difficult otherwise to imagine why he acted so foolishly, however cranky he might have felt. H... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID'S REACTION. Humanly speaking David's reaction was inevitable. What Nabal had said was deliberately insulting, contrary to custom and an act of open hostility. It was a refusal to accept the norms of hospitality because of his contempt for David. It was to declare war. Had they partaken of his... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIGAIL AVERTS DISASTER (1 SAMUEL 25:20). Abigail rides to meet David, takes all the guilt on herself, and begs him to show mercy, not only for her sake but for his own, so that he will not be guilty before YHWH of shedding innocent blood, thereby revealing that she has a more tender conscience tha... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIGAIL'S PLEA. 1 Samuel 25:25 “ Let not my lord, I pray you, regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal, for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.” She pleaded with him to recognise Nabal for wha... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID'S RESPONSE. In his response David acknowledged that she was in the right, and that she had kept him from unnecessary blood-guiltiness. It was one thing to have to slay men in warfare and in order to preserve peace for all. It was a different matter when it came down to personal vendettas, and... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID, HAVING LOST HIS WIFE THROUGH SAUL'S CONNIVING, RECEIVES TWO WIVES IN HER PLACE (25:39C-44). Once David had fled from Saul he became an outlaw. Thus Saul considered that his marriage to Michal was consequently at an end, and gave Michal to someone else. But we learn that YHWH then adequately... [ Continue Reading ]