1 Sam. 25 Samuel dieth: David goeth to the wilderness of Paran, 1 Sam. 25:1. Nabal’s riches, 1 Sam. 25:2. His and his wife Abigail’s nature and condition, 1 Sam. 25:3. David requesteth of Nabal some relief for his camp: he entreateth David’s messengers scornfully.

Buried him in his house, according to the manner of those times. See Gen. 23:9, Gen. 50:5, Matt. 27:60. The wilderness of Paran, in the southern borders of the land of Judah, that so when occasion served, he might retire out of Saul’s dominions.

Maon; a place in or near to the wilderness of Paran. See 1 Sam. 23:24. Carmel; not that Carmel in Issachar, of which see 1 Sam. 15:12, 1 Kings 18:19; but another in the tribe of Judah, near unto Maon, as appears from Josh. 15:55.

This is added to aggravate his crime, that he was a degenerate branch of that noble stock of Caleb, and consequently of the tribe of Judah, as David was.

Which times were celebrated with feasting and jollity. See 2 Sam. 13:23–24.

To him that liveth in prosperity, Heb. to him that liveth. Life is oft put for a prosperous and happy life, as in that prayer, Let the king live, 1 Sam.

Which, considering the licentiousness of soldiers, and the necessities which David and his men were oft exposed to, was no small favour and privilege, which Nabal was bound both ill justice, and gratitude, and prudence to requite.

In a good day, i.e. in a day of feasting and rejoicing; when men are most cheerful and liberal; when thou mayst relieve us out of thy abundance without damage to thyself; when thou art receiving the mercies of God, and therefore obliged to pity and relieve distressed and indigent persons, Deut.

Who is David? what relation or obligation have I to David? There be many servants now a days that break away; hereby he taxeth both David, as one revolted from and risen up against Saul his lord and master; and his soldiers as runagates from their masters and creditors, &c. See 1 Sam. 22:2.

My water; he speaketh thus, either because in those hot and dry parts water was scarce and precious; or water is here put for any kind of drink, as bread is oft taken for all sorts of meat.

Gird ye on every man his sword; having resolved and sworn to revenge himself of Nabal, as is expressed, 1 Sam. 25:21–22. By the stuff. See 1 Sam. 17:22, 1 Sam. 30:24.

One of the young men told Abigail; wisely considering the mischievous effects likely to follow so churlish a message.

A wall, i.e. a defence against wild beasts, and robbers, and enemies.

Evil is determined against our master; which it was easy to guess; either from some threatening expressions which David’s men used; or from the consideration of David’s great power, and that rage which so high a provocation was likely to produce in military persons.

Abigail took two hundred loaves; which she did without his leave, and against his mind, because it was a case of apparent necessity, for the preservation of herself, and husband, and all the family from imminent ruin.

I come after you; for she knew she could quickly over take them.

By the covert of the hill; in the lower part and under the shadow of the hill, or of the trees that grew upon it; so that David did not see her till she met him. David and his men came down, to wit, from another opposite hill.

David had said; either in his journey, or as soon as he heard that reproachful answer. This fellow; whom he thought unworthy to be named, for his barbarous ingratitude and churlishness.

Unto the enemies of David, i. e. Unto David himself. But because it might seem ominous and unnatural to curse himself, therefore by a figure called euphemismus, instead of David, he mentions David’s enemies. See 1 Sam. 20:16.

Not only in token of deep reverence, but as a most humble supplicant, as 2 Kings 4:27.

Upon me let this iniquity be; impute Nabal’s sin to me, and, if thou pleasest, punish it in me, who here offer myself as a sacrifice to thy just indignation.

Let not my lord regard this man; his person and words deserve thy contempt, but not thy regard. Man of Belial; for such he hath showed himself to be by this wicked and abominable carriage towards thee. Folly is with him; his noted folly and stupidity is a more proper object for thy pity than anger.

Seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood; seeing God hath so ordered this business by his wise and wonderful providence, that I should accidentally and unexpectedly come to the knowledge of my husband’s vile and sordid carriage; and that I should come to meet thee, and find…

This blessing; so a gift or present is called here, and Gen. 33:11, and elsewhere; not only because the matter of it comes from God’s blessing, but also because it is given with a blessing, or with a good will. Let it even be given unto the young men, as being unworthy of thine acceptance or use.

The trespass of thine handmaid, i.e. which I have taken upon myself, 1 Sam. 25:21, and which, if it be not pardoned, but punished, the punishment will reach to me. Will certainly make my lord a sure house, i.e. will give the kingdom to thee, and to thy house for ever, as he hath promised thee.

A man, to wit, Saul, though no way injured nor justly provoked by thee. To seek thy soul, i. e. to take away thy life. In the bundle of life, or, in the bundle, i.e. in the society or congregation of the living; out of which men are taken and cut off by death.

Nor offence of heart unto my lord; thy mind and conscience will be free from all the torment which the guilt and shame of such an action would cause in thee.

Which by his gracious and singular providence so disposed matters that thou shouldst, come to rule. He rightly begins at the fountain of this deliverance, which was God; and then proceeds to the instruments.

Blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, i.e. the Lord bless and recompense thee for this thy good advice. From coming to shed blood, which I had sworn to do.

Hath kept me back from hurting thee; not that he intended to kill her, but the males only; as was noted in 1 Sam. 25:22. But their destruction was a dreadful affliction and damage to her.

i.e. Showed my acceptance of thy person, by my grant of thy request: see Gen. 19:21.

Like the feast of a king; as the manner was upon those solemn occasions. Sordid covetousness and vain prodigality were met together in him. She told him nothing; he being then incapable of admonition, his reason and conscience being both asleep.

He was oppressed with grief, and fainted away through the fear and horror of so great a mischief, though it was past. As one who, having in the night galloped over a narrow plank, laid upon a broken bridge, over a deep river, when in the morning he came to review it, was struck dead with.

God either inflicted some other stroke or disease upon him, or increased his grief and fear to such a height as killed him.

How could David rejoice at the death of his enemy? Answ. Although it may be said that he rejoiced not in Nabal’s death as such, but only in the declaration of God’s justice in punishing so great a wickedness; which was an honour to God, and a document, and therefore a benefit to mankind, and so a…

She showed this reverence, and spake thus to them, as representing David’s person.

She went after the messengers; not immediately, but some convenient time after they were gone. She considered not David’s present straits and penury, which site thought her plentiful estate might supply; nor his danger from Saul; but by a true and strong faith rested upon God’s promise made to…

But, or for, as the Hebrew vau is ofttimes used. For this seems to be added as a reason why David took other wives, because Saul had given his former wife to another man, that he might as far as he could extinguish all relation and kindred to him, whom he hated; and withal, cut off his hopes and…