1 Samuel 25

Chapter Introduction

Let the believer be encouraged to commit his cause to God when in any way injured, being assured that in His own good time God will redress the wrongs in His own way if we but sit still and leave the matter to Him.

Brooks, K. (2009).

Summarized Bible: Old Testament (p. 62).

Logos Bible Software.

1 Samuel 25:1

Moses and Aaron were among His priests,

And Samuel was among those who called upon His name;

They called upon the Lord, and He answered them.

He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar;

They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them. (Psalm 99:6, NKJV)

Samuel played a key role in the transition from the time of Judges to the rule of a king. God always knew there would be a king, but the people thought this was a new idea, their idea. They wanted to be like other nations. Samuel ministered to Saul and the people. His ministry effectively ended by overseeing the transition of the throne from Saul to David. He announced that the Lord rejected Saul and then anointed David as the next King.

Samuel died. What a life. What a great adventure. He was the son that Hannah longed for. His entire life was dedicated to work before the Lord. He began his work as a child, serving Eli when the priesthood was faltering and everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes.

All of Israel assembled and mourned him. While they didn’t always obey or heed Samuel’s words, they respected and honored him. They understood that he spoke the word of the Lord.

Samuel had done other things that are noted elsewhere:

He organized the Levites in the service of the sanctuary, which David and Solomon later completed. (1 Chronicles 9:22)
Samuel began collecting treasures to build the temple in Solomon’s day. (1 Chronicles 26:27–28)
Samuel remembered the Passover and kept Israel in remembrance of God’s great deliverance. (2 Chronicles 35:18)
Psalm 99:6 and Jeremiah 15:1 commemorate Samuel as a man of great intercession.
Hebrews 11:33 puts Samuel in God’s “Hall of Faith.”

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³³who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again. (Hebrews 11:32–35, NKJV)

Samuel had anointed David, changing the direction of his life. With Saul hot on his heels, he felt like he had lost an important ally. David went down to the Wilderness of Paran.

1 Samuel 25:2-3

David moved down to the wilderness of Paran, Maon, and encountered a wealthy man named Nabal. The city of Carmel was a mile north of Maon. The city of Carmel had been raided and controlled by the Amalekites. This is where Saul claimed to have slaughtered them in obedience to the Lord, but Samuel pointed out his flawed thinking. Saul had set a monument up for himself there (15:12), which might explain his loyalty to Saul of Nabal and the people there.

Nabal means fool. This is probably not the name his mother gave him, but it is a wordplay of his actual name. This fool was very rich. His riches were only in what he possessed. He was harsh and evil in his day-to-day conduct. By contrast, his wife, Abigail, is introduced as a beautiful woman of good understanding.

We are also told he was from Caleb's house, as if that further explains his demeanor. Caleb means bold, impetuous, dog, whole-hearted. The Septuagint translated the last line of verse three to “He was a doggish man.” Some translators see this as a proper name; others say it means heart, the place of one’s thoughts, emotions, knowledge, and conscience. The actual Hebrew says, “As his heart.” Some believe this would be better translated to, “He was as his heart!”

His material wealth defined him. His money couldn’t buy character, wisdom, or joy.

1 Samuel 25:4-9

David sought the favor of Nabal. The shearing of his sheep was a time of feasting, celebration, and generosity. David, having protected Nabal’s flocks from Philistine raids, was now politely asking for some compensation. These men protected the flocks, not robbing or allowing others to do so.

1 Samuel 25:10-13

Nabal scoffed at David and his men. The greeting in David’s name may have raised the defenses of this Saul supporter. Nabal implied that David was insignificant and unworthy of any of his attention. He then used Saul’s nickname for David, “Son of Jesse.” He considered David a runaway slave, having fled from Saul, his master. Nabal had to know David, but his response shows a total lack of respect for him.

Upon hearing Nabal’s response, David told his men to mount up and strap on their swords. Four hundred men were ready to deal with Nabal, while two hundred guarded their supplies.

David’s response here is a far cry from the patience and kindness shown to Saul, who attempted to kill him at least fifteen times. Yet, David would not wield a weapon before Saul. He seems to have been guided by patience, wisdom, and kindness while following the leading of the Lord. The only exception we’ve seen is the lies said to Abimelech (priest) at Nob. And asking Johnathon to fabricate a lie about his absence. This isn’t the Godly response we might expect from David. Is there something more going on?

Dealing with a Fool!

The Fool

The fool has no fear of God.
The fool rejects wisdom and knowledge.
Fools instead trust their judgments, wealth, and ways.
- This is a fool doing what fools do.
The world will never have a shortage of fools.

The Future King

David put himself in a place where he relied on the fool rather than God.
David was rejected by this foolish man.
The emotional response made David more like a fool

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

……lest you also be like him." (Proverbs 26:4)

- In engaging a fool, the fool by nature doesn’t come closer to fearing the Lord.
  - … but drags others down to the depths of foolishness.
The wise man, after the heart of God, was suddenly being controlled by the fool.

Go from the presence of a foolish man,

When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,

But the folly of fools is deceit. (Proverbs 14:7-8)

David’s emotional response to revenge was a fool’s response.
- He did not consult Abiathar and the ephod.
- He did not seek the Lord.
- His frustration, anger, and emotions drove him to strap a sword
  - To take vengeance on everyone involved in this disappointment.
  - Exasperation, hunger, Samuel’s death, and more may have been factors.

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,

Rather than a fool in his folly. (Proverbs 17:12)

Our challenge – when a fool offends you, don’t run off and prove you’re a bigger fool.

1 Samuel 25:14-17

David planned to kill every male in the camp to punish Nabal and remove any ability to retaliate. The servants understood this and told Abigail. Everyone seems to know Nabal is a thick-headed fool. The servants confirm that David’s men cared for them in the fields. They were “as a wall,” showing they were worthy of some compensation during this time of feasting.

David, the good shepherd, had become the shepherd's shepherd, caring for these servants. For David's kindness, Nabal scorned him. The servants called Nabal a scoundrel before Abigail. Everyone knew.

1 Samuel 25:18-22

We get a sense of Nabal’s wealth when this kind of gift can be assembled on such short notice. Abigail made haste and assembled a tremendous gift of food and provisions for David and his men. She sent the servants ahead to announce her coming. All this was done without telling Nabal.

In Abigail, we get a glimpse of the Proverbial Proverbs 31 woman:

Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness. (Proverbs 31:25-26)

Abigail intercepted David as he came down to kill all the males of Nabal. She is driven by calm wisdom. There is no panicked, emotional response. There is no begging or pleading. She contrasts Nabal, a breath of fresh air, and David receives her as such.

Note: We should remember how the culture viewed women then. This makes Abigail even more special. In a world with little respect for women, she presented herself with authority, character, respect, and kindness.

David told her that his actions were in vain. He had protected Nabal’s servants in the wilderness. David had acted wisely, with character and sound judgment. They had shown kindness and value for the lives of the servants and flocks. Yet, Nabal repaid him with evil (like Saul).

David felt justified because he was offended. However, he was justifying the sin he was about to commit. Did he only do those things with the hopes of being paid for them? Would he allow the servants and flocks to be attacked otherwise? We don’t think so.

David used a Hebrew euphemism of contempt that speaks of the annihilation of groups of men. It would sound something like, “May God strike and kill me if even one man is alive in the morning to urinate against the wall!”

1 Samuel 25:23-31

Abigail yielded to David, falling on her face before him. She bowed to the ground, paying homage to him and taking responsibility for what happened. It was almost like she was saying she failed to make this delivery earlier, but now here it is.

Everyone seemed to understand and accept that Nabal was a scoundrel. We often feel justified in straightening out a scoundrel or putting them in their place. That was undoubtedly David’s attitude. But his heart was wrong.

As snow in summer and rain in harvest,

So honor is not fitting for a fool.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,

So a curse without cause shall not alight. (Proverbs 26:1-2)

An unjust or undeserved curse has no effect and cannot harm its intended target. Much like birds without a proper place to land, baseless accusations or malicious words are ineffective and transient. To act the fool in response proves the first fool to be correct.

Abigail said, “Please, let not my Lord regard this scoundrel Nabal.” Had she seen David’s men coming, she would have provided for them, and there would have been no issue. She was attempting to do what Nabal should have done.

Abigail told David that the Lord’s hand restrained him. Had he acted, innocent men would have died, and David would have been guilty before the Lord. The Lord kept him from bloodshed. She provided the gift and asked for forgiveness from him.

With a hint of being a prophetess and the insight of a wise woman, Abigail saw that Yahweh would make the house of David an enduring house. He fights the battles of the Lord, implying this isn’t worthy of his attention. Her allusion to the sling refers to conquering Goliath. The “bundle” in verse 29 is a Hebrew burial practice of bundling up valuables for burial.

She makes the point that the battle is the Lord’s. She foresaw a time when the Lord would seat him on the throne of Israel. On that day, he would be glad he did not act in anger toward Nabal and kill him and the innocent servants. +

"The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh." (Proverbs 11:17)

When the Lord dealt with her lord – presumably Nabal - she asked David to remember her. This sounds like she is making herself available to David for marriage.

1 Samuel 25:32-35

Abigail has caused a reset in David’s thinking. She’s calmed his passions and lust for revenge. She displays the character spoken about in verse three. David blessed the Lord for sending her to him. He realized she was a divine intervention that kept him from being guilty of bloodshed.

David blessed God.
Blessed Abigail’s advice
Blessed Abigail

David was at fault for plotting vengeance by his own will and hands. Abilgail’s discretion and understanding diffused the situation, turning it positive.

Note: Blessing (Baruk) is something that is initiated by God, through others, or directly.

David and his men received the gifts and then told her she was free to go home with no fear of any further action on their part. David heeded her advice and respected her. He doesn’t speak of any respect for Nabal. The phrase “respected your person” literally means to lift up the face. He relieved her of her fear and lifted her from her humility, allowing her to speak. He respected her actions and intentions.

1 Samuel 25:36-38

Now, Abigail returned home to find Nabal drunk from feasting and celebrating. Prudence kept her from speaking of him about the events of that day. He was utterly unaware that his life and the lives of all his servants were at risk because of his treatment of David’s men. He was not just a wealthy man but a stingy and hateful wealthy man.

She waited until morning and told him what she had done. His heart died, and he became like a stone. If we imagine Nabal’s typical response would have been flying off the handle and acting angrily towards Abigail for working behind his back and defying him, making him look like a fool, etc. Then, we might see his inability to respond as God protecting Abigail, diffusing that situation, and judgment on Nabal.

It was ten days later that the Lord struck Nabal and took his life.

1 Samuel 25:39-40

David saw Nabal’s death as God’s vengeance for the reproach of David and his men. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. He’s much better at it, more balanced, and just. We are clouded with emotions and hatred, and are out of balance. The Lord takes this option from us to keep us out of trouble. David saw that. The Lord kept him from evil.

Not only did the Lord uphold him, but he brought Nabal’s evil as a judgment on him. God can take care of the fools without our help.

Whoever rewards evil for good,

Evil will not depart from his house. (Proverbs 17:13)

David proposed to Abigail. Notice the way this is done. He sent his servants to the bride to secure her as a wife. She then comes with her maidens. Marriage is age-old. The timing is abbreviated here because she is alone. Typically, a bride in her father’s house would be betrothed. A bride price would be negotiated. The groom’s father would set the date. Then, the bridegroom's friends would retrieve the bride to become his wife at a later date (after a place was prepared for them).

We might note that David inherited Nabal's wealth.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22)

For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

Jesus spoke a parable about a wealthy fool:

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

²¹“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

1 Samuel 25:43-44

Saul took Michal, Saul’s daughter, away from David and gave her as a wife to another man. He never really took her as a wife, so David wasn’t married when he took Abigail as his wife. He will also take Ahinoam of Jezreel as a wife. See 2 Samuel 3:2-5.

The Big Idea

We see similarities between Saul and Nabal. Yet, David deals with them in vastly different ways. We might see that the enemy of our souls failed to stumble David in dealing with Saul. Now, he tried to stumble David with this fool and almost accomplished it. David learned valuable lessons:

Fools come in all shapes, sizes, and ages.
All fools are godless, but the godly are not without their fools. We aren’t exempt from foolish actions.
God is always better at vengeance than we are. When our temper is hot, we forget who we are and elbow God out of the way to take care of it ourselves. And He allows you to prove you are a bigger fool than the one you are dealing with.
Nabal ignored the prudence, wisdom, and knowledge that Abigail possessed. He was wise enough to take her as a wife but too foolish to learn from her.

1 Samuel