1 Samuel 25

25:1-44 This episode about Nabal falls between two accounts in which Saul pursued David and David spared Saul’s life. Nabal was similar to Saul.25:1 Maon: This town in southern Judah (see study note on 23:24) was likely Nabal’s home. The wilderness of Paran, located in the northern half of the Sinai Peninsula, was too far south. The wilderness of Paran served as a place of refuge (Gen 21:21; 1 Kgs 11:18).

25:2 Carmel was a village near Maon, not to be confused with the famous mountain from the Elijah narrative in 1 Kgs 18. It was in this village that Saul had erected his monument to celebrate victory over the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:12).

25:3 Nabal: See 25:25 for insight into the irony of his name. • Unlike her husband, Abigail was a sensible and wise person, as the narrative shows.

25:8 Sheep-shearing time for herdsmen was like harvest time for farmers, a time of celebration and thankfulness for blessings.

25:10 son of Jesse: Like Saul (20:27, 31; 22:7), Nabal used this designation disrespectfully.

25:21 he has repaid me evil for good: Cp. 24:17.

25:26 Abigail began and ended (25:31) her plea by declaring that God had kept you from murdering and taking vengeance: David could have killed Nabal (and Saul), but he didn’t.

25:28 a lasting dynasty: See 2 Sam 7. • fighting the Lord’s battles: David was known and loved for his victories over Israel’s enemies (1 Sam 18:7, 13, 16). • have not done wrong: This comment does not indicate that David was sinless, but rather that he was innocent in his quest for the throne (as 25:29-31 makes clear).

25:29 The phrase like stones shot from a sling is a fitting metaphor for David, considering his defeat of Goliath with a sling (17:32-51).

25:36 like a king: Nabal was like Saul (see study note on 25:1-44).

25:37 Nabal was so stunned by the revelation that he had a stroke or a heart attack.

25:39 Nabal’s death was God’s punishment for his sin. David could not be accused of vengeful murder. • David lost no time in asking Abigail to become his wife. She had already shown herself to be a woman of good sense, and she was also beautiful (25:3).

25:43 Ahinoam was also the name of Saul’s wife (14:50). If she was the same woman, then David took Saul’s widow after his death (31:1-13), which would make another parallel between Nabal and Saul. However, see 27:3; 30:5. • This Jezreel was a village in the vicinity of Maon, Ziph, and Carmel in Judah (Josh 15:55-56) and not the better-known northern city of Jezreel.

25:44 Saul’s motive for giving away Michal to another man was probably political, an attempt to remove any claim David might have on the throne by dissolving David’s marriage with a member of the royal family.