1 Samuel 25

1 Samuel 25

Henry - We have here an account of Abigail's prudent management for the preserving of her husband and family from the destruction that was just coming upon them; and we find that she did her part admirably well and fully answered her character. The passion of fools often makes those breaches in a little time which the wise, with all their wisdom, have much ado to make up again. It is hard to say whether Abigail was more miserable in such a husband or Nabal happy in such a wife. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, to protect as well as adorn, and will do him good and not evil. Wisdom in such a case as this was better than weapons of war. 1. It was her wisdom that what she did she did quickly, and without delay; she made haste. It was no time to trifle or linger when all was in danger. Those that desire conditions of peace must send when the enemy is yet a great way off (cf Lk 14:32). 1 Samuel 25:19 She said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. Go: Ge 32:16,20 But: Pr 31:11,12,27 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ABIGAIL - A WISE WOMAN She said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold (hinneh; Lxx = idou), I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal - Here we see the wisdom of Abigail, for had she told Nabal, he would have played the fool and lost everything! As the story unfolds, Abigail in effect "saved" two men from serious consequences. 1 Samuel 25:20 It came about as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them. riding: 2Ki 4:24 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The Meeting of David and Abigail GOD'S PERFECT TIMING PREVENTS DISASTER It came about as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold (hinneh; Lxx = idou), David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them - It came about but not by chance but by providence. Abigail and David could have been on different trails at different times, but God made sure to intersect their paths and prevent David from deviating to the left or the right of the path of holiness! God is behind the scenes controlling the scenes He is behind! THOUGHT - Have you ever gotten in a hurry and "played God" by taking vengeance instead of leaving it to God, only to later regret your impetuous actions? Did God do anything to try to stop you from taking vengeance, even sending you an "Abigail" type messenger (or message, a Scripture, a nudging of your conscience) in the nick of time? Abigail reminds me of another woman named Ruth who had a providential meeting with a man named Boaz, Ruth 2:3 recording "So she (RUTH) departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech." Ruth just happened to light on Boaz's field and Boaz just happened to come to his field that day. The two met and the rest is history (HIS - story)! THOUGHT - Beloved, if you are a follower of Christ, you can be confident that God's Spirit is behind the scenes ordering your "starts" and your "stops!" There are no "chance" occurrences in our lives. Rowland V. Bingham, founder of the Sudan Interior Mission, was once seriously injured in a terrible automobile accident. Rushed to the hospital in critical condition, he did not regain consciousness until the next day. When he asked the nurse what he was doing there, she replied, "Don't try to talk now, just rest. You have been in an accident.""Accident? Accident?" exclaimed Dr. Bingham. "There are no accidents in the life of the Christian. This is just an incident in God's perfect leading." Our attitude toward the Lord's leading our steps ought to be the same. For the child of God, there are no accidents, only incidents reflecting providences of God's sovereign control. David came to understand this great, comforting truth writing "The steps of a man are established by the LORD; And He delights in his way." (Ps 37:23). Do you believe God is in control? He is! Play Twila Paris' God is In Control. (See Providence) In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along, Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet, God leads His dear children along. Some thru the waters, some thru the flood, Some thru the fire, but all thru the blood; Some thru great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long. 1 Samuel 25:21 Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; and he has returned me evil for good. Surely: 1Sa 25:13 Job 30:8 Ps 37:8 Eph 4:26,31 1Th 5:15 1Pe 2:21-23 3:9 he has returned me evil for good: Ge 44:4 Ps 35:12 38:20 109:3-5 Pr 17:13 Jer 18:20 Ro 12:21 1Pe 2:20 3:17 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID COMMENCES THE CONVERSATION Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have guarded all that this man has in the wilderness (midbār; Lxx - eremos) , so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; and he has returned me evil for good - David reasons as most men would reason, that Nabal had recompensed him with evil (living up to Nabal's character in 1Sa 25:3!), and "turnabout" would be fair play. David was preparing to respond like a natural man would respond and was justifying his soon to be carried out actions! 1 Samuel 25:22 "May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by morning I leave as much as one male of any who belong to him." BGT 1 Samuel 25:22 τάδε ποιήσαι ὁ θεὸς τῷ Δαυιδ καὶ τάδε προσθείη εἰ ὑπολείψομαι ἐκ πάντων τῶν τοῦ Ναβαλ ἕως πρωὶ οὐροῦντα πρὸς τοῖχον LXE 1 Samuel 25:22 So God do to David and more also, if I leave one male of all that belong to Nabal until the morning. KJV 1 Samuel 25:22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. NET 1 Samuel 25:22 God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who belong to him!" CSB 1 Samuel 25:22 May God punish me and do so severely if I let any of his men survive until morning." ESV 1 Samuel 25:22 God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him." NIV 1 Samuel 25:22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!" NLT 1 Samuel 25:22 May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!" NRS 1 Samuel 25:22 God do so to David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him." NJB 1 Samuel 25:22 May God bring unnameable ills on David and worse ones, too, if by morning I leave a single manjack alive of all who belong to him!' NAB 1 Samuel 25:22 May God do thus and so to David, if by morning I leave a single male alive among all those who belong to him." YLT 1 Samuel 25:22 thus doth God do to the enemies of David, and thus He doth add, if I leave of all that he hath till the light of the morning -- of those sitting on the wall.' GWN 1 Samuel 25:22 May God punish me if I leave even one of his men alive in the morning." May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also: 1Sa 3:17 14:44 20:13,16 Ru 1:17 if I leave: 1Sa 25:34 any male. 1Ki 14:10 16:11 21:21 2Ki 9:8 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID CALLS ON GOD TO PUNISH HIM IF HE FAILS TO PUNISH NABAL May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by morning I leave as much as one male of any who belong to him - NJB = "May God bring unnameable ills on David and worse ones, too" This is a curse formula (1Sa 14:44; 20:13; 25:22; 2 Sa 3:9, 35; 19:13; Ru 1:17; 1 Ki 2:23; 2 Ki 6:31). Oaths like this were a most serious matter because the oath directly invoked God’s involvement, whether it concerned giving testimony (Ex 20:7; Lev 19:12), making commitments (Ge 21:23–24; 24:3–4) or prohibiting action. So here we see David is calling down a curse from God on himself if he does not annihilate Nabal. Clearly, David is incensed at the rude rebuff from Nabal. David is determined to get even, even if it is "overkill" (a bad pun intended)! He is myopic in his anger, forgetting what murder of so many people would do to his subsequent reign! Foolish (or even wise) short term acts can have long range impacts! A man after God's own heart is not one who impetuously swears an oath! Theoretically he ended up breaking this oath after Abigail's convincing arguments. Robert Vannoy - David invokes a curse on himself if he should fail to kill every male in Nabal’s household and so obliterate Nabal’s family. Whole households were killed to cut off a man’s name and to prevent revenge killings. (Borrow NIV Study Bible) 1 Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground. dismounted : Jos 15:18 Jdg 1:14 fell: 1Sa 20:41 1Sa 24:8 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ABIGAIL HURRIES TO DEFUSE DAVID'S ANGER When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey - Whether she heard David's words in the previous verses is difficult to determine, but clearly Abigail could not miss David's angry demeanor. and fell on her face before David and bowed (shachah; Lxx = proskuneo) herself to the ground - Abigail "speaks" first with her actions of submission and humility toward David. David understood Abigail's heart from her actions for he had carried out these very same actions before Jonathan (1Sa 20:41) and King Saul (1Sa 24:8)! This would surely have some softening effect on the anger in David's heart even as it did (David's actions and words) on his enemy Saul, so that "Saul lifted up his voice and wept." (1Sa 24:9) Prostrated (07812) shachah means to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to crouch, to fall down, to humbly beseech, to do reverence, to worship. The idea is to assume a prostrate position as would in paying homage to royalty (Ge 43:28) or to God (Ge 24:26, Ps 95:6). The English word prostrate is defined as being stretched out with one's face on the ground in adoration or submission. It is not just that the person has fallen down but pictures them lying at length or with their body extended on the ground and so lying in a posture which is reflective of genuine humility and/or adoration. First uses in Bible = Ge 18:2, Abraham "bowed himself toward the ground" before the 3 messengers who announced that Sarah would have a son. Bowing down in homage generally before a superior or a ruler thus, David "bowed" himself before Saul 1Sa 24:8. WORSHIP IN THE MIDST OF THE REFINER'S FIRE: Ge 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship (proskuneo) and return to you." Job 1:20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell (pipto -- Aor Act Participle) to the ground and worshiped.(Ao Act Ind = proskuneo). These men of God when tested "bowed down"--they submitted to God's will. They exercised real Faith which is not believing in spite of evidence but is obeying in spite of consequences! This is what Christ did, perfectly, on the Cross. Take up your Cross daily and follow Me was His clarion call and Abraham & Job obeyed even before the Cross! Shachah - uses in First & Second Samuel - 1 Sam. 1:3; 1 Sam. 1:19; 1 Sam. 1:28; 1 Sam. 2:36; 1 Sam. 15:25; 1 Sam. 15:30; 1 Sam. 15:31; 1 Sam. 20:41; 1 Sam. 24:8; 1 Sam. 25:23; 1 Sam. 25:41; 1 Sam. 28:14; 2 Sam. 1:2; 2 Sam. 9:6; 2 Sam. 9:8; 2 Sam. 12:20; 2 Sam. 14:4; 2 Sam. 14:22; 2 Sam. 14:33; 2 Sam. 15:5; 2 Sam. 15:32; 2 Sam. 16:4; 2 Sam. 18:21; 2 Sam. 18:28; 2 Sam. 24:20; 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the blame. And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant. BGT 1 Samuel 25:24 ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν ἐν ἐμοί κύριέ μου ἡ ἀδικία λαλησάτω δὴ ἡ δούλη σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά σου καὶ ἄκουσον τῆς δούλης σου λόγον LXE 1 Samuel 25:24 even to his feet, and said, On me, my lord, be my wrong: let, I pray thee, thy servant speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy servant. KJV 1 Samuel 25:24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. NET 1 Samuel 25:24 Falling at his feet, she said, "My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant! CSB 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet and said, "The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant. ESV 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. NIV 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. NLT 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet and said, "I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say. NRS 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet and said, "Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. NJB 1 Samuel 25:24 She fell at his feet and said, 'Let me take the blame, my lord. Let your servant speak in your ear; listen to what your servant has to say! NAB 1 Samuel 25:24 As she fell at his feet she said: "My lord, let the blame be mine. Please let your handmaid speak to you, and listen to the words of your handmaid. YLT 1 Samuel 25:24 and falleth at his feet and saith, 'On me, my lord, the iniquity; and let, I pray thee, thy handmaid speak in thine ear, and hear the words of thy handmaid. GWN 1 Samuel 25:24 After she bowed at his feet, she said, "Sir, let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to my words. fell: 2Ki 4:37 Es 8:3 Mt 18:29 On me alone: 1Sa 25:28 Ge 44:33,34 2Sa 14:9 Philemon 1:18,19 let: Ge 44:18 2Sa 14:12 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ABIGAIL'S WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY She fell at his feet - In addition to what she had just done in the previous passage - fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground and said, "On me alone, my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios), be the blame. And please let your maidservant (amah; Lxx - doule) speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant (amah; Lxx - doule) - NET = "Falling at his feet, she said, "My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant!" She is pleading with David for an audience to hear her out. Maidservant is a keyword in this chapter occurring 7x in 6v - 1Sa 25:24, 25, 27, 28, 31, 41. There is another keyword in Abigail's speech to David, the word lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios), especially used in the phrase "my lord" which is found 14 times in 8 verses! She is quite a woman and clearly David picks up on how special she is! THOUGHT - Abigail is a living illustration of Proverbs 15:1+ which says "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Nabal took the latter approach and almost paid for it with his life! Are your (my) interactions with others more like Abigail or Nabal? Robert Vannoy - Abigail begins her appeal to David on an apologetic note (she is not taking on herself the blame for Nabal’s action), as she does again when she begins the second half of her appeal (1Sa 25:28). Contrast Nabal’s high-handed treatment of David. (Borrow NIV Study Bible) Ray Pritchard comments - Over the hill comes David riding full tilt, with 400 men kicking up dust behind him. His eyes flash with anger. “I’m going to teach that so-and-so a lesson he’ll never forget.” Then he looks down the road and there on a donkey is a beautiful woman riding toward him—reins in one hand, a crock pot under her arm. It’s Dear Abby to the rescue! If there is such a thing as love at first sight, this is it. He looks at all the food, knowing that his men are hungry. When he halts before Abigail, she does something strange. Getting off her donkey, she bows down in the dust before David. She asks David to take revenge on her because she is Nabal’s wife. David has never met a woman like her before. He’s not about to do anything to her. In everything she does we see her greatness. She is prompt in her actions, generous in her gifts, and wise in her words. It is clear that she cares more for her family than she does for her reputation. What follows in verses 23-31 is her speech to David. I commend this as worthy of your study because it shows how to handle an angry person. With a deft touch and just the right words, she defuses a deadly situation. (1 Samuel 25 Dear Abby) Maidservant (handmaid, maid)(01323) amah means a female servant, a maidservant (of Pharaoh's daughter - Ex 2:5), a slave girl. It can refer to a literal slave (Ex 21:10, 17; 20; Lev. 25:6; Job 31:13) and figuratively to those who call themselves by this term as an expression of humility (Ruth 3:9; Hannah in 1 Sa 1:16; Abigail in 1 Sa 25:24; 2 Sa 20:17) or as a token of the highest sense of submission when speaking to God (1 Sa 1:11; Ps. 86:16; Ps 116:16). In some contexts it can refer to a concubine (Ge 20:17; Ge 21:10, 12, Ge 30:3). Returning Israelites after the Exile counted these female servants among their possessions (Ezra 2:65). While the female slaves were to worship with their master's family in spiritual fellowship (Dt. 12:12, 18) they were still considered as possessions. TWOT adds that "A distinction was made between foreign slaves and Hebrew servants. The latter had more rights and freedoms (cf. Leviticus 25:44 and Deut. 15:12-18). But clearly, God expected his children to show kindness and consideration for the needs of these female slaves (Job 19:15; Job 31:13)." 1 Samuel 25:25 "Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him; but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. BGT 1 Samuel 25:25 μὴ δὴ θέσθω ὁ κύριός μου καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν λοιμὸν τοῦτον ὅτι κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ οὕτως ἐστίν Ναβαλ ὄνομα αὐτῷ καὶ ἀφροσύνη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγὼ ἡ δούλη σου οὐκ εἶδον τὰ παιδάριά σου ἃ ἀπέστειλας LXE 1 Samuel 25:25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, take to heart this pestilent man, for according to his name, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thy handmaid saw not the servants of my lord whom thou didst send. KJV 1 Samuel 25:25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. NET 1 Samuel 25:25 My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means 'fool,' and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent. CSB 1 Samuel 25:25 My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name is Nabal, and stupidity is all he knows. I, your servant, didn't see my lord's young men whom you sent. ESV 1 Samuel 25:25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. NIV 1 Samuel 25:25 May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name--his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent. NLT 1 Samuel 25:25 I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don't pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent. NRS 1 Samuel 25:25 My lord, do not take seriously this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. NJB 1 Samuel 25:25 My lord, please pay no attention to this brute Nabal for his nature is like his name; "Brute" is his name and brutal he is. But I, your servant, did not see the men whom my lord sent. NAB 1 Samuel 25:25 Let not my lord pay attention to that worthless man Nabal, for he is just like his name. Fool is his name, and he acts the fool. I, your handmaid, did not see the young men whom my lord sent. YLT 1 Samuel 25:25 'Let not, I pray thee, my lord set his heart to this man of worthlessness, on Nabal, for as his name is so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; and I, thine handmaid, did not see the young men of my lord whom thou didst send; GWN 1 Samuel 25:25 You shouldn't take this worthless person Nabal seriously. He is like his name. His name is Nabal Godless Fool, and he's foolish. But I didn't see the young men you sent. Please do not let my lord pay attention: Heb. lay it to his heart, 2Sa 13:33 Isa 42:25 Mal 2:2 worthless: 1Sa 25:17,26 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DISREGARD THIS SON OF BELIAL Please do not let my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios) pay attention - Literally "lay it to his heart." to this worthless (beliyyaal) man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him - In ancient times a person’s name was believed to reflect their nature and character, so somehow his parents were moved to name it a "Fool!" Today someone would call in the Child Protective Services! Abigail is not being disloyal but in fact is seeking to save her foolish husband's life! This speaks volumes for Abigail -- Nabal was no "catch" and it might have been tempting for the wife of such a man to hand such a brute over to his executioners! but I your maidservant (amah; Lxx - doule) did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent - Again she uses maidservant as an expression of humility and submission to David. Abigail is innocent of the evil words and acts of her foolish husband. 1 Samuel 25:26 "Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, since the LORD has restrained you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord, be as Nabal. BGT 1 Samuel 25:26 καὶ νῦν κύριε ζῇ κύριος καὶ ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου καθὼς ἐκώλυσέν σε κύριος τοῦ μὴ ἐλθεῖν εἰς αἷμα ἀθῷον καὶ σῴζειν τὴν χεῖρά σού σοι καὶ νῦν γένοιντο ὡς Ναβαλ οἱ ἐχθροί σου καὶ οἱ ζητοῦντες τῷ κυρίῳ μου κακά LXE 1 Samuel 25:26 And now, my lord, as the Lord lives, and thy soul lives, as the Lord has kept thee from coming against innocent blood, and from executing vengeance for thyself, now therefore let thine enemies, and those that seek evil against my lord, become as Nabal. KJV 1 Samuel 25:26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. NET 1 Samuel 25:26 "Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and as surely as you live, it is the LORD who has kept you from shedding blood and taking matters into your own hands. Now may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like Nabal. CSB 1 Samuel 25:26 Now my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, it is the LORD who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself by your own hand. May your enemies and those who want trouble for my lord be like Nabal. ESV 1 Samuel 25:26 Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. NIV 1 Samuel 25:26 "Now since the LORD has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. NLT 1 Samuel 25:26 "Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is. NRS 1 Samuel 25:26 Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, since the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be like Nabal. NJB 1 Samuel 25:26 And now, my lord, as Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, by Yahweh who kept you from the crime of bloodshed and from taking vengeance with your own hand, may your enemies and all those ill-disposed towards you become like Nabal. NAB 1 Samuel 25:26 Now, therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as you live, it is the LORD who has kept you from shedding blood and from avenging yourself personally. May your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord become as Nabal! YLT 1 Samuel 25:26 and now, my lord, Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, in that Jehovah hath withheld thee from coming in with blood, and to save thy hand to thee -- now let thine enemies be as Nabal, even those seeking evil unto my lord. GWN 1 Samuel 25:26 "The LORD has kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. Now, sir, I solemnly swear, as the LORD and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal. as the Lord lives: 1Sa 25:34 22:3 2Ki 2:2 4:6 and as your soul lives: 1Sa 1:26 the Lord has: 1Sa 25:33 Ge 20:6 from: Ro 12:19,20 avenging: Heb. saving thyself, Ps 18:47,48 44:3 now let: 2Sa 18:32 Jer 29:22, Da 4:19 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ABIGAIL INVOKES THE LORD AS RESTRAINING DAVID Now therefore, my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios), as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, since the LORD has restrained you from shedding blood and from avenging yourself by your own hand - As the LORD lives is an oath formula which appealed to God as the supreme enforcement power and the all-knowing Judge of human actions. The most solemn oaths were pronounced in the name of the reigning monarch (Ge 42:15) or of the speaker’s deities (Ps 16:4; Am 8:14) or of the LORD himself (Jdg 8:19; 1Sa 14:39, 45; 19:6). Abigail credits the LORD for keeping David from killing Nabal and his household. How? By allowing this providential meeting between her and David! Now then let your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios), be as Nabal - The NLT has "let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is." What is she saying? Is she disrespecting her own husband? Pritchard - This is the doctrine of the restraining grace of God, or you might call it the Preventive Providence of God. Abigail says, “God sent me to keep you from committing murder by killing my husband.” She appeals to his higher nature by calling him to grant forgiveness to a fool. Let the Lord fight your battles and you will win every day. (Ibid) 1 Samuel 25:27 "Now let this gift which your maidservant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who accompany my lord. BGT 1 Samuel 25:27 καὶ νῦν λαβὲ τὴν εὐλογίαν ταύτην ἣν ἐνήνοχεν ἡ δούλη σου τῷ κυρίῳ μου καὶ δώσεις τοῖς παιδαρίοις τοῖς παρεστηκόσιν τῷ κυρίῳ μου LXE 1 Samuel 25:27 And now accept this token of goodwill, which thy servant has brought to my lord, and thou shalt give it to the servants that wait on my lord. KJV 1 Samuel 25:27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. NET 1 Samuel 25:27 Now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord. CSB 1 Samuel 25:27 Accept this gift your servant has brought to my lord, and let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. ESV 1 Samuel 25:27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. NIV 1 Samuel 25:27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you. NLT 1 Samuel 25:27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men. NRS 1 Samuel 25:27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. NJB 1 Samuel 25:27 As for the present which your servant has brought my lord, I should like this to be given to the men in your service. NAB 1 Samuel 25:27 Accept this present, then, which your maidservant has brought for my lord, and let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. YLT 1 Samuel 25:27 'And, now, this blessing which thy maid-servant hath brought to my lord -- it hath been given to the young men who are going up and down at the feet of my lord. GWN 1 Samuel 25:27 Here is a gift I am bringing to you. May it be given to the young men who are in your service. gift, 1Sa 30:26 Ge 33:11 2Ki 5:15 2Co 9:5 the young men who accompany my lord: Heb. walk at the feet of, 1Sa 25:42 Jdg 4:10 2Sa 16:2 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ABIGAIL PLEADS FOR DAVID TO ACCEPT HER GIFT Now let this gift which your maidservant (amah; Lxx - doule) has brought to my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios) be given to the young men who accompany my lord - Again maidservant speaks of her humble, submissive heart attitude. Her offer of a gift is to appease David's anger, which in theology and as it relates to God we would call making propitiation. 1 Samuel 25:28 "Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant; for the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil will not be found in you all your days. BGT 1 Samuel 25:28 ἆρον δὴ τὸ ἀνόμημα τῆς δούλης σου ὅτι ποιῶν ποιήσει κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου οἶκον πιστόν ὅτι πόλεμον κυρίου ὁ κύριός μου πολεμεῖ καὶ κακία οὐχ εὑρεθήσεται ἐν σοὶ πώποτε LXE 1 Samuel 25:28 Remove, I pray thee, the trespass of thy servant; for the Lord will surely make for my lord a sure house, for the Lord fights the battles of my lord, and there shall no evil be ever found in thee. KJV 1 Samuel 25:28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. NET 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive the sin of your servant, for the LORD will certainly establish the house of my lord, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD. May no evil be found in you all your days! CSB 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord because he fights the LORD's battles. Throughout your life, may evil not be found in you. ESV 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. NIV 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD's battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. NLT 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The LORD will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the LORD's battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life. NRS 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant; for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. NJB 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive your servant for any offence I have given you, for Yahweh will certainly assure you of a lasting dynasty, since you are fighting Yahweh's battles and no fault has been found in you throughout your life. NAB 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive the transgression of your handmaid, for the LORD shall certainly establish a lasting dynasty for my lord, because your lordship is fighting the battles of the LORD, and there is no evil to be found in you your whole life long. YLT 1 Samuel 25:28 'Bear, I pray thee, with the transgression of thy handmaid, for Jehovah doth certainly make to my lord a stedfast house; for the battles of Jehovah hath my lord fought, and evil is not found in thee all thy days. GWN 1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive my offense. The LORD will certainly give you, sir, a lasting dynasty, because you are fighting the LORD's battles. May evil never be found in you as long as you live. forgive: 1Sa 25:24 the Lord: 1Sa 15:28 2Sa 7:11,16,27 1Ki 9:5 1Ch 17:10,25 Ps 89:29 fighting: 1Sa 17:47 18:17 2Sa 5:2 2Ch 20:15 Eph 6:10,11 evil: 1Sa 24:6,7,11,17 1Ki 15:5 Ps 119:1-3 Mt 5:16 Lu 23:41,47 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Samuel 7:16 “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” ABIGAIL APPEALS TO DAVID WITH TWO PROPHECIES Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant (amah; Lxx - doule) - Note maidservant again speaking of her humility and submission. Abigail in effect takes full responsibility for Nabal's rejection and reviling. Perhaps she does this because she is one flesh with Nabal, even though she did not commit the evil. For - She explains why David needs to forgive the transgression. the LORD will certainly make for my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios) an enduring house - NLT = "The LORD will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty." This is a promise that is true and here Abigail seems to be speaking it as if it were a prophecy. This truth is one of the key features of the "Davidic Covenant" which God will speak to David later (2Sa 7:16) Because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD - My lord speaks of her humble, submissive attitude in making this appeal. Because explains why the LORD would make David's house an enduring one. and evil will not be found in you all your days - She adds a second true statement of David that comes across like a prophecy. 1 Samuel 25:29 "Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; but the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling. BGT 1 Samuel 25:29 καὶ ἀναστήσεται ἄνθρωπος καταδιώκων σε καὶ ζητῶν τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ ἔσται ἡ ψυχὴ κυρίου μου ἐνδεδεμένη ἐν δεσμῷ τῆς ζωῆς παρὰ κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ψυχὴν ἐχθρῶν σου σφενδονήσεις ἐν μέσῳ τῆς σφενδόνης LXE 1 Samuel 25:29 And if a man shall rise up persecuting thee and seeking thy life, yet shall the life of my lord be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord God, and thou shalt whirl the life of thine enemies as in the midst of a sling. KJV 1 Samuel 25:29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. NET 1 Samuel 25:29 When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the LORD your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling's pocket! CSB 1 Samuel 25:29 "When someone pursues you and attempts to take your life, my lord's life will be tucked safely in the place where the LORD your God protects the living. However, He will fling away your enemies' lives like stones from a sling. ESV 1 Samuel 25:29 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. NIV 1 Samuel 25:29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. NLT 1 Samuel 25:29 "Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! NRS 1 Samuel 25:29 If anyone should rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living under the care of the LORD your God; but the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. NJB 1 Samuel 25:29 Should anyone set out to hunt you down and try to kill you, your life will be kept close in the wallet of life with Yahweh your God, while your enemies' lives he will fling out of the pouch of the sling. NAB 1 Samuel 25:29 If anyone rises to pursue you and to seek your life, may the life of my lord be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God; but may he hurl out the lives of your enemies as from the hollow of a sling. YLT 1 Samuel 25:29 And man riseth to pursue thee and to seek thy soul, and the soul of my lord hath been bound in the bundle of life with Jehovah thy God; as to the soul of thine enemies, He doth sling them out in the midst of the hollow of the sling. GWN 1 Samuel 25:29 Even though someone pursued you and sought your life, your life is wrapped in the bundle of life which comes from the LORD your God. But he will dispose of the lives of your enemies like stones thrown from a sling. bound: 1Sa 2:9 Ge 15:1 De 33:29 Ps 66:9 116:15 Mal 3:17 Mt 10:29,30 with the Lord: Joh 10:27-30 14:19 17:21,23 Col 3:3,4 1Pe 1:5 sling out: Jer 10:18 as from the hollow of a sling: Heb. in the midst of the bow of a sling 1 Samuel 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios) shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God - NLT - "Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch!" Ray Pritchard - This is a beautiful piece of advocacy. She refers to Saul’s pursuit of David and reaffirms that God will keep him safe “in the bundle of the living.” David, God himself has protected you and will protect you. You can afford to show kindness to Nabal. When she mentions “the pocket of a sling,” there is a clear reference to the day David defeated Goliath with one stone from a sling. It’s a subtle way of saying, “If you rely on the Lord to fight your battles, you will win every time.” (Ibid) Alan Redpath (see his full message at bottom of page) - The master stroke of the whole argument, however, is in the words of verse 29. In effect she said, “David, your soul is wrapped up in a bundle of life in the Lord your God, and the strength of that bundle lies in the identity of God with all that goes on inside it. He is there with you! Therefore, the life of a man after God’s own heart is safe in God’s keeping, and what can the churlishness of Nabal do against you! Why should you stoop to his level?” Then she added a very lovely touch by reminding him that he was taking four hundred men, with two hundred behind looking after the stuff, to do what God could do as easily as throwing a pebble out of a sling! I wonder if David held his head a little lower at that point and remembered a day in his youth – in all the ardor of his love and affection and commitment to the Lord, and the fragrance of that fresh anointing of the Spirit – when he took one stone out of a sling and killed a giant. When the issues are left in God’s hand, it is as easy as that. But taking them out of His hand, and getting hot under the collar with everything bursting inside you until you get your own back, is not the way for a man of God. Isn’t this a lesson to all of us who would seek to get alongside others in need and help them nearer to the Lord? Abigail’s argument was so gracious and tender, without a word of harshness or rebuke. When you are on the point of letting somebody “have it”, if only you would stop and kneel in the presence of the Lord, then the Holy Spirit would speak to you just as Abigail spoke to David. But (term of contrast) the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling (see Jer. 10:18).- Now she presents a striking contrast with the previous description of the preservation of David's life. She uses the picture of a stone shot out of sling to describe the fate of David's enemies. Would this have stirred up some memories in David's heart and mind? (Rhetorical of course!) This would also prove to be true and functions somewhat like a prophetic statement. Other translations like the NAB see this more as her prayer rendering it "may He hurl out the lives of your enemies as from the hollow of a sling." John MacArthur on the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living - A metaphor that reflects the custom of binding valuables in a bundle to protect them from injury. The point here was that God cared for His own as a man would his valuable treasure. David, she said, enjoyed the protection of divine providence which destined him for great things. On the other hand, God would fling his enemies away like a stone in a sling-shot. (Borrow The MacArthur Study Bible) TSK - The metaphors in this verse are derived from the consideration, that things of value are collected together, and often tied up in bundles, like sheaves of corn, to prevent their being scattered and lost, and that whatever is put into a sling is not intended to be preserved, but to be thrown away. G Campbell