CHAPTER XXV _The death of Samuel_, 1. _The history of Nabal, and his churlishness towards David and_ _his men_, 2-12. _David, determining to punish him, is appeased by Abigail,_ _Nabal's wife_, 13-35. _Abigail returns, and tells Nabal of the danger that he has_ _escaped: who on hearing it is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:3. _THE NAME OF THE MAN_ WAS _NABAL_] The word נבל _nabal_ signifies to be _foolish, base_, or _villanous_; and hence the Latin word _nebulo, knave_, is supposed to be derived. _THE NAME OF HIS WIFE ABIGAIL_] The _joy_ or _exultation of my_ _father_. A woman of sense and beauty, m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:6. _PEACE_ BE _BOTH TO THEE_] This is the ancient form of sending greetings to a friend: _Peace to THEE, peace to thy_ _HOUSEHOLD, and peace to all that THOU HAST_. That is, May both _thyself_, thy _family_, and all that _pertain_ unto thee, be in continual _prosperity_! Perhaps D... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:7. _THY SHEPHERDS WHICH THERE WITH US, WE HURT THEM NOT_] It is most evident that David had a _claim_ upon Nabal, for very essential services performed to his herdmen at Carmel. He not only did them _no hurt_, and took none of their _flocks_ for the supply of his necessities, but h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:8. _WHATSOEVER COMETH TO THINE HAND_] As thou art making a great feast for thy servants, and I and my men, as having essentially served thee, would naturally come in for a share were we present; send a portion by my ten young men, for me and my men, that we also may rejoice with yo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:10. _WHO IS DAVID?_] Nabal's answer shows the _surliness_ of his disposition. It was unjust to refuse so reasonable a request; and the _manner_ of the refusal was highly insulting. It is true what his own servants said of him, _He is such a son of Belial that_ _one cannot speak to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:18. _TOOK TWO HUNDRED LOAVES_] The Eastern bread is ordinarily both _thin_ and _small_; and answers to our _cakes_. _TWO BOTTLES OF WINE_] That is, two goat-skins full. The hide is pulled off the animal without _ripping up_; the places where the legs, c., were are sewed up, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:20. _SHE CAME DOWN - AND DAVID - CAME DOWN_] David was coming down Mount Paran; Abigail was coming down from Carmel. - _Calmet_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:22. _SO AND MORE ALSO DO GOD_] Nothing can justify this part of David's conduct. Whatever his provocation might have been, he had suffered, properly speaking, no wrongs; and his resolution to cut off a whole innocent family, because Nabal had acted ungenerously towards him, was abo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:28. _AND EVIL HATH NOT BEEN FOUND IN THEE_] Thou hast not committed any act of this kind hitherto.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:29. _SHALL BE BOUND IN THE BUNDLE OF LIFE_] Thy life shall be precious in the sight of the Lord: it shall be found in the bundle of life; it shall be supported by Him who is the _Spring and_ _Fountain of life_, and ever be found _united_ to those who are most favoured by the Almigh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:37. _HIS HEART DIED WITHIN HIM, AND HE BECAME_ AS _A STONE._] He was thunderstruck, and was so terrified at the apprehension of what he had escaped, that the fear overcame his mind, he became insensible to all things around him, probably refused all kinds of nourishment, and died i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:39. _TO TAKE HER TO HIM TO WIFE._] It is likely that he had heard before this that Saul, to cut off all his pretensions to the throne, had married Michal to Phalti; and this justified David in taking Abigail or any other woman; and, according to the then custom, it was not unlawful... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:43. _DAVID ALSO TOOK AHINOAM_] Many think that this was his wife before he took Abigail; she is always mentioned first in the list of his wives, and she was the mother of his eldest son Ammon. _OF JEZREEL_] There were two places of this name; one in the tribe of Issachar, the othe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 25:44. _PHALTI_] Called also _Phaltiel_, 2 Samuel 3:16. _OF GALLIM._] Probably a city or town in the tribe of Benjamin; see Isaiah 10:30. It is likely therefore that Saul chose this man because he was of his own tribe. IN this chapter we have the account of the death of Samuel, who... [ Continue Reading ]