Abigail gives the right example – submission that speaks, but speaks sweetly instead of sharply. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. ix. Two hundred loaves of bread… two skins of wine… five sheep already dressed… one hundred clusters of raisins: Abigail did what Nabal should have done, but what he didn’t do. Summarize 1 Samuel 25:1 by explaining that Samuel the prophet died and all the Israelites gathered to mourn his loss. For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head: David knew the death of Nabal was God’s judgment, which the LORD showed when David decided to let the LORD avenge him instead of avenging himself. And he has repaid me evil for good: David was accurate, but not right in his heart. They would forever wonder if they could really trust him. We have here some intermission of David’s troubles by Saul. Because it was like “harvest time” sheep shearing was a time of lavish hospitality towards others. Nabal answered David's servants, . The Bible says you must stay as you are. Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”. 1 Samuel 25:1. parched corn--It was customary to eat parched corn when it was fully grown, but not ripe. Nabal did shear his sheep, and David sent out ten young men, &c.--David and his men lurked in these deserts, associating with the herdsmen and shepherds of Nabal and others and doing them good offices, probably in return for information and supplies obtained through them. 1 Samuel Chapter 25 Explained. ( AG) 24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, ( AH) and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. c. Know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined: Nabal’s servants read the handwriting on the wall. In verse 1, we are told that Samuel has died. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel." Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. It also seems that Abigail saw David first, and when David first saw her, she was humbled before him, at the head of a great train of gifts and provisions. You can also change some of your preferences. When David received it from Abigail he acknowledged that Nabal had paid the bill and there was nothing outstanding. Chapter 25. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. In Derailed Tim Irwin looks at six CEOs who derailed their company. Introduction. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Other Christian wives have the idea of “sharply speaking submission.” They say, “I know my husband is wrong, and God has appointed me to tell him. And the man was very rich: The first thing we learn about this man is where he lived (Maon, with his business in Carmel), and that he was a very rich man (three thousand sheep and a thousand goats). For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. God continues and sustains His work as He pleases. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. This proves that David did not need to avenge himself with his own hand; God was more than able to do it. a. Unlike David (see 1 Samuel 22:10, 15), Saul is not accustomed to seeking divine guidance. Therefore, they made this life-or-death appeal to Abigail. i. e. For we come on a feast day: David politely reminded Nabal of the traditions of generosity surrounding harvest and sheep shearing time. 1 Samuel 25:1. But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. b. On such a festive occasion, near a town or village, even in our own time, an Arab sheik of the neighboring desert would hardly fail to put in a word either in person or by message; and his message, both in form and substance, would be only a transcript of that of David" [ROBINSON]. Though Samuel died (Firth, 272), David wisely recognizes the godly wisdom of Abigail and takes her advice; a lesser man would have rejected her (Baldwin, 164) Then Samuel died: This great man dedicated unto the LORD and serving Him from his youngest days, now dies. c. David sent ten young men: This shows that David made the request politely. c. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives: Though Abigail was David’s “second marriage,” with Ahinoam David took a second wife and will add many more wives. "To the wilderness of Paran" (1 Samuel 25:1 b). Wolf, Herbert M. “1-2 Samuel.” In The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, edited by Gary M. Burge and Andrew E. Hill. When lots were drawn to learn who God had chosen as Israel’s king, Saul was not a part of that process; he was hiding (10:22). If Abigail didn’t do what she did, then Nabal and scores of innocent men would die. The district takes its name from this town, now a mass of ruins; and about a mile from it is Tell Main, the hillock on which stood ancient Maon. Abigail plainly, straightforwardly, asked for forgiveness (Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant). How did a woman like this ever get matched up with a man like Nabal? If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.” And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. She greeted the servants of David with the greatest humility. 143 It was not Saul’s idea to inquire of a “seer” to learn where his father’s lost donkeys might be (1 Samuel 9:5-9). That is why he arms himself and his men and why he left some men behind to watch the stuff and serve as reinforcements. i. He had the facts straight, but not his heart. All rights reserved. You will find these questions on the Internet at www.usefulbible.com. Nabal’s own greed and foolishness was his undoing. b. So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. In 1 Samuel 25:33, David was grateful that Abigail's appeal had kept him from avenging myself with my own hand. This was completely false because David had continually (though not perfectly) conducted himself wisely when attacked by Saul. The Hebrews took as great care to provide sepulchers anciently as people do in the East still, where every respectable family has its own house of the dead. When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.” Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel: David was on a sinful course and Abigail, through her bold, quick, and wise appeal, stopped him from sin. Submission means I should shut up.” That is wrong, and they should look to Abigail as an example. The *Philistines return the *ark of God to *Israel. Saul then said, "Thus you shall say to David, `The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king's enemies.'. " i. David is being taught a good lesson – our hurt feelings never justify disobedience. So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. He knew God spoke to him through Abigail (who sent you this day). Workbook on 1 Samuel Page #8 Assignments on 1 Samuel 2 Please read 1 Sam. Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. b. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Still, Samuel offered the Israelites hope: if they obeyed the LORD, he would bless them and their new king. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. But Nabal is not dealing with a weak, no-account man; David was a great soldier and warrior. For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hastened and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Abigail’s submission to Nabal was not outstanding but her submission to David was. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel: This was the “harvest time” for a sheep rancher. “As the word caleb signifies a dog, the Septuagint have understood it as implying a man of a canine disposition, and translate it thus… he was a doggish man. iv. He sent the messengers with a greeting full of warmth and kindness (Peace be to you), so Nabal would not give out of fear or intimidation. Though named after its main character, the ABIGAIL PACIFIES HIM. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. The Israelites gathered together and lamented for him: Samuel seemed to be unappreciated by Israel during his life (1 Samuel 8:1-7) but at least he was honored in his death. And it came about while he was shearing his sheep in Carmel . So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! 10-12. Despite David’s present anger and agitation – which is clearly sin – Abigail spoke of David’s character in high terms, regarding his present unmentioned state as an aberration (my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil is not found in you throughout your days). c. His heart died within him, and he became like stone… the LORD struck Nabal, and he died: Abigail’s wise action saved Nabal from David and saved David from himself. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. 1 Samuel 10:25New International Version (NIV) 25 Samuel explainedto the people the rights and dutiesof kingship. iii. i. 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. i. 25. The Death of Samuel. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. They were not divided into two books until the Old Testament was translated into Greek. Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. The men were very good to us: Nabal’s servants told Abigail of the valuable service David’s men performed. 1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. She openly and severely criticized her husband to David (this scoundrel Nabal… Nabal is his name, and folly is with him). David, at the time, was having trouble supporting his six hundred men. This is not a high moment for David. i. God would have us bear insults with love and kindness, returning their evil with our good. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. 19. she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you--People in the East always try to produce an effect by their presents, loading on several beasts what might be easily carried by one, and bringing them forward, article by article, in succession. Nabal Angers David. i. If one vexation seems to be over, we must not be secure; a storm may … He knew that the issue wasn’t Abigail’s gender, but that God used her at that time and place. We don’t know if Nabal was given this name or he earned it but he certainly lived up to it. Chapter 25. of By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. on StudyLight.org Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary 1 Samuel 25:2. She stated it in a way that almost guided David towards her suggested outcome. Psalm 99:6 and Jeremiah 15:1 commemorate Samuel as a man of great intercession. Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and your son David: David made this request because he performed a valuable service for Nabal, protecting his flocks when Philistine raids were common. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives. But she didn’t do it by being negative, by emphasizing to David how wrong and angry and stupid he was – though in fact he was. David didn’t show Nabal the same kindness and longsuffering that he showed to Saul. 1 Samuel 25:24 - She fell at his feet and said, 'On me alone, my lord, be the blame. Salem Media Group. 1 Samuel 25 Samuel died; and all Israel gathered themselves together, and mourned for him, and buried him at his house at Ramah.Then David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. In just the previous chapter, David spared Saul’s life when Saul not only insulted David but also actually attacked him and tried to kill him. She asked him to let the LORD settle the matter instead of taking vengeance into his own hands. i. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. 25. And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! In 1 Samuel 25:33, David was grateful that Abigail’s appeal had kept him from avenging myself with my own hand. a. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. 1 Chronicles 9:22 suggests he organized the Levites in the service of the sanctuary which was completed by David and Solomon. Perhaps God knew that you needed the fiery trial to humble you and make you a testimony to your partner. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’” So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited. As godly as he was, it did not save him from an earthly death because he was still a descendant of Adam. Part 1 - 1 Samuel chapter 1 - Samuel: the boy whose mother gave him to God. 143 It was not Saul’s idea to inquire of a “seer” to learn where his father’s lost donkeys might be (1 Samuel 9:5-9). Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling.