When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off her donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground. She fell at his feet, and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your servant. Please don’t let my lord pay attention to 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, didn’t see my lord’s young men, whom you sent. Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, since Yahweh has withheld you from blood guiltiness, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies, and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights Yahweh’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days. Though men may rise up to pursue you, and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God. He will sling out the souls of your enemies, as from the hollow of a sling. It will come to pass, when Yahweh has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”
Parallel Translations
-
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off her donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
She fell at his feet, and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your servant.
Please don’t let my lord pay attention to 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, didn’t see my lord’s young men, whom you sent.
Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, since Yahweh has withheld you from blood guiltiness, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies, and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights Yahweh’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days.
Though men may rise up to pursue you, and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God. He will sling out the souls of your enemies, as from the hollow of a sling.
It will come to pass, when Yahweh has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel,
that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”
-
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
Show all 3 translations
-
And when Abigail saw David, she made haste, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed down to the ground.
And she fell at his feet, and said: 'Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity; and let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy handmaid.
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this base fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and churlishness is with him; but I thy handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from bloodguiltiness, and from finding redress for thyself with thine own hand, now therefore let thine enemies, and them that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
And now this present which thy servant hath brought unto my lord, let it be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
Forgive, I pray thee, the trespass of thy handmaid; for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD; and evil is not found in thee all thy days.
And though man be risen up to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul, yet 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 from the hollow of a sling.
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that He hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee prince over Israel;
that this shall be no stumbling-block unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord hath found redress for himself. And when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.'
Cross-references (90)
- John 17:21 (v29) that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that…
- 2 Samuel 18:32 (v26) The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all…
- Malachi 3:17 (v29) They shall be mine,” says Yahweh of Armies, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son…
- Matthew 10:29-30 (v29) “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, but the very hairs of…
- Psalms 116:15 (v29) Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints.
Show all 89 cross-references
- Romans 12:19-20 (v26) Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the…
- Genesis 20:6 (v26) God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning…
- Genesis 33:11 (v27) Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took…
- Genesis 40:14 (v31) But remember me when it is well with you. Please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.
- 1 Samuel 2:9 (v29) He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.
- 1 Samuel 13:14 (v30) But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince…
- 1 Samuel 18:17 (v28) Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.”…
- 1 Samuel 25:17 (v25) Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house; for he is such a…
- 1 Samuel 30:26 (v27) When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, “Behold, a present for you from…
- 2 Samuel 7:11 (v28) and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh…
- Psalms 66:9 (v29) who preserves our life among the living, and doesn’t allow our feet to be moved.
- Jeremiah 10:18 (v29) For Yahweh says, “Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.”
- John 17:23 (v29) I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved…
- 1 Peter 1:5 (v29) who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Genesis 15:1 (v29) After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great…
- Deuteronomy 33:29 (v29) You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency? Your enemies will…
- 1 Samuel 20:41 (v23) As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed…
- 1 Samuel 24:11 (v28) Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you,…
- 1 Samuel 25:28 (v24) Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights Yahweh’s battles.…
- 1 Samuel 25:33 (v31) Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are you, who have kept me today from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand.
- 1 Samuel 25:33-34 (v26) Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are you, who have kept me today from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand.…
- 2 Samuel 14:9 (v24) The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, may the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house; and may the king and his throne…
- 1 Chronicles 17:25 (v28) For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.
- Esther 8:3 (v24) Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite,…
- Psalms 18:47-48 (v26) even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those…
- Daniel 4:19 (v26) Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar,…
- John 10:27-30 (v29) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch…
- Romans 12:19 (v31) Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the…
- Colossians 3:3-4 (v29) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in…
- Hebrews 10:30 (v26) For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me;” says the Lord, “I will repay.” Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
- Joshua 15:18 (v23) When she came, she had him ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey, and Caleb said, “What do you want?”
- Judges 1:14 (v23) When she came, she got him to ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, “What would you like?”
- 1 Samuel 24:15 (v31) May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
- 1 Samuel 25:40 (v31) When David’s servants had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you, to take you to him as wife.”
- 1 Samuel 26:23 (v31) Yahweh will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t…
- 2 Samuel 7:16 (v28) Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.” ’ ”
- 2 Samuel 22:48 (v31) even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me,
- 1 Kings 9:5 (v28) then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, ‘There shall not fail…
- 2 Kings 4:37 (v24) Then she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; then she picked up her son, and went out.
- 2 Kings 5:15 (v27) He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no God…
- 1 Chronicles 17:10 (v28) and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will…
- Psalms 44:3 (v26) For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the…
- Psalms 94:1 (v31) Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.
- Proverbs 5:12-13 (v31) and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to…
- Malachi 2:2 (v25) If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says Yahweh of Armies, “then I will send the curse…
- Luke 23:42 (v31) He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
- John 14:19 (v29) Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.
- Romans 14:21 (v31) It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
- Philemon 1:18-19 (v24) But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not…
- 1 Samuel 15:28 (vv28, 30) Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
- Genesis 44:18 (v24) Then Judah came near to him, and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and don’t let your anger burn…
- Genesis 44:33-34 (v24) Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, my lord’s slave; and let the boy go up with his brothers. For how will I go…
- Judges 4:10 (v27) Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; and Deborah went up with him.
- 1 Samuel 1:26 (v26) She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.
- 1 Samuel 17:47 (v28) and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into…
- 1 Samuel 22:3 (v26) David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come out with you, until I…
- 1 Samuel 23:17 (v30) He said to him, “Don’t be afraid; for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to…
- 1 Samuel 24:6-7 (v28) He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he…
- 1 Samuel 24:8 (v23) David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David…
- 1 Samuel 24:17 (v28) He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
- 1 Samuel 25:24 (v28) She fell at his feet, and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your…
- 1 Samuel 25:42 (v27) Abigail hurried, and arose, and rode on a donkey, with five ladies of hers who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David,…
- 2 Samuel 5:2 (v28) In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people…
- 2 Samuel 7:27 (v28) For you, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has…
- 2 Samuel 13:33 (v25) Now therefore don’t let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for only Amnon is dead.”
- 2 Samuel 14:12 (v24) Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Say on.”
- 2 Samuel 16:2 (v27) The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and…
- 1 Kings 15:5 (v28) because David did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and didn’t turn away from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life,…
- 2 Kings 2:2 (v26) Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives,…
- 2 Kings 4:6 (v26) When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” He said to her, “There isn’t another container.” Then the…
- Psalms 89:20 (v30) I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,
- Psalms 89:29 (v28) I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
- Psalms 119:1-3 (v28) Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law. Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with…
- Jeremiah 29:22 (v26) A curse will be taken up about them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab,…
- Matthew 18:29 (v24) “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
- Luke 23:41 (v28) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
- Luke 23:47 (v28) When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 (v31) For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of…
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 (v27) I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that…
- Ephesians 6:10-11 (v28) Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the…
- 1 Samuel 25:26 (v25) Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, since Yahweh has withheld you from blood guiltiness, and from avenging…
- 2 Chronicles 20:15 (v28) and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, king Jehoshaphat. Yahweh says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and…
- Isaiah 42:25 (v25) Therefore he poured the fierceness of his anger on him, and the strength of battle. It set him on fire all around, but he didn’t know. It…
- Matthew 5:16 (v28) Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
89 distinct cross-references across this passage (90 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 Hebrew, in thine ears.
Hebrew, in thine ears.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv23–31 1Sa 25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted,…
1Sa 25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
Ver. 23. And fell before David on her face.] By which most humble posture she disarmed David’s indignation, and redeemed her own sorrows. Caesar said that he did nothing more glady than pardon humble suppliants. {a} The very Turks, though remorseless to those that bear up, yet receive they humiliation with much sweetness. {b} "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God," &c. {Jas 4:10}
Read full note →
{a} Caes., Comment. de Bell. Alexan.
{b} Sir H. Blunt’s Voyage in the Levant.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 Not only in token of deep reverence, but as…
Not only in token of deep reverence, but as a most humble supplicant, as 2Ki 4:27.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv23–31 And when Abigail saw David,.... Whom she either knew…
And when Abigail saw David,.... Whom she either knew personally, or rather supposed who he was by the number of men that followed him:
she hasted, and alighted off the ass; on which she rode:
Read full note →
and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground; in respect to, and reverence of, so great a person as David was.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 And said, &c. - Impute Nabal's sin to me,…
And said, &c. - 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. This whole speech of Abigail shews great wisdom, by an absolute submitting to mercy, without any pretense of justification, of what was done, (but rather with aggravation of it) she endeavours to work upon David's generosity, to pardon it. And there is hardly any head of argument, whence the greatest orator might argue in this case, which she doth not manage to the best advantage.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv28–29 Verse 28. And evil hath not been found in…
Verse 28. And evil hath not been found in thee] Thou hast not committed any act of this kind hitherto.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 1Sa 25:24. Upon me, my lord, let this iniquity…
1Sa 25:24. Upon me, my lord, let this iniquity be, &c. — 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. This whole speech of Abigail shows great wisdom. By an absolute submitting to mercy, without any pretence of justification of what was done, (but rather with aggravation of it,) she endeavours to work upon David’s generosity, to pardon it. And there is hardly any head of argument, whence the greatest orator might argue in this case, which she doth not manage to the best advantage.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv26, 28, 29 The passage should be rendered as follows: “And now…
The passage should be rendered as follows: “And now my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth,” it is “the Lord” that “hath withholden thee from coming” into blood-guiltiness (as in 1Sa 25:33), “and from saving thyself with thine own hand;” and “now” all “thine enemies” shall be as Nabal (whom she considers as utterly impotent to hurt David, and as already thoroughly humbled before him), and (so shall be) all “that seek evil to my Lord.”
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv23–31
CHAPTER XXV.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 26, 29 she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell…
she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face--Dismounting in presence of a superior is the highest token of respect that can be given; and it is still an essential act of homage to the great. Accompanying this act of courtesy with the lowest form of prostration, she not only by her attitude, but her language, made the fullest amends for the disrespect shown by her husband, as well as paid the fullest tribute of respect to the character and claims of David.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv25, 26, 28, 29, 31 25. Nabal… his name, and folly… with him —…
25. Nabal… his name, and folly… with him — In the Hebrew there is a play upon the words, the word for folly being nebalah; Nabal is his name and nebalah is with him.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 23–31. Abigail’s meeting with David
23–31. Abigail’s meeting with David
23. lighted off the ass] i.e. got down from, an old form of alighted. The Heb. word is different from that similarly translated in Jos_15:18, and simply means “to descend.”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 (23) Fell before David.—This act of obeisance, and, in…
(23) Fell before David.—This act of obeisance, and, in fact, the whole tone of the wise wife of Nabal in her address to David, seems to betoken her consciousness that she was addressing the anointed of Jehovah, the future king—at no distant date—of Israel. Her worst fears she found realised when she met David, probably at no great distance from the principal residence of Nabal, accompanied by so large an armed force, evidently bent on some deed of violence. She deprecated his wrath by representing her husband not merely as a bad man, but as one scarcely responsible for his actions. Had she only known of the mission of David’s followers to Nabal, she implies, very different indeed had been their reception; they would not, at least, have returned to David empty-handed.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23, 26, 28, 29 Vers. 23-25. Abigail fell before David on her face.…
Vers. 23-25. Abigail fell before David on her face. This very abject obeisance may have been grounded on her belief in David"s future kingship, or it may simply mark the inferior position held by women in those days (see ver. 41). Her whole address is couched in very humble terms. David (1Sa_24:8) only stooped with his face to the ground before Saul. Upon me. Abigail represents herself as the person really guilty, on whom the iniquity, i.e. the punishment of the offence, must fall. Nabal is a mere son of Belial, a worthless, bad man, whose name Nabal, i.e. fool, is a sign that folly is with him, and accompanies all his acts. As a fool he is scarcely accountable for his doings, and Abigail, whose wont and business it was to set things to rights, saw not the young men, and so was unable to save them from her husband"s rudeness.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v29 The soul of my Lord shall be bound in…
1Sa_25:29
The soul of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life.
Read full note →
The bundle of life
The imagery, of course, is Oriental. It is very true that the life of man is bounded up with the Divine; bound up in the bundle of life, how expressive it is--tied to Him. The soul and life of man is in the bundle with the life of God.
1. This is the beginning of human history. There is but one life in the world, and that life pours itself out and becomes the life of man. And mans life is like the life of God, and it is, in its measure, the life of God. This life is very realistically described as being breathed out from the lips of the Almighty into the muscles of man.
2. Now this is something that gives us not only a very exalted idea of God, but a very exalted idea of man. I do not know of anything that needs to be more impressed upon us today than the dignity of human nature--let me change the word--the divinity of human nature. Nothing can exalt a man above the greatness of his nature, the greatness that is his because his life is a Divine life, his life is in the bundle of life with God. Let us remember this, that whatever happens, we are made of Gods will, that God wanted us to be made, that He wanted us to be here. There is something we can do that nobody else could do, and that Gods wealth in the world is the wealth of men and women who can meet Him, answering love with love, answering with wisdom and confidence and obedience.
3. It is very easy to see what comes out of this. There comes out of it on the one side Gods great delight in us. The Lords portion is His people. As long as God is rich, we are rich, as long as God is happy we can be happy if we want to be. As long as God is wise we are wise if we want to be. We are in the bundle with Him. You are bound up in the bundle of life, whatever happens to you happens to Him, and if you choose to have it so, whatever happens to Him, according to the measure of your day, will happen to you. And God likes this trust, this confidence. The more we trust Him the more He is delighted in us. God depends upon us. We are in the bundle of life, and when we drop out of the bundle of life and leave God alone--well, did you ever have a child go out of your house and leave you? That is a little bit of the feeling that God has when we get out of the bundle of life, when we seek after pleasures which he has forbidden, when there is anything in our business that He does not approve. It is so ordained that while we are in the bundle of life with God we are free perfectly. We are not compelled to be there. You can get out of the bundle of life any time you want to. We find a great deal going on in the world that does not seem to be consistent with the bundle of God. How can there be all this misery if London is in the bundle with God? But all London is not in the bundle with God. It ought to be, it can be, but it has slipped away. Yet it is pretty plain that a good many of us have got outside the bundle of God. How does God regard it? How do you regard it? I would like to ask what would happen to God if you get out of the bundle. What would happen if your boy, whom you love a hundred times more than you love Him, got out of your bundle? From the first of Genesis we find how man slipped out of Gods bundle. One day they came to Christ and found fault with Him because they said He ate and drank with publicans and sinners, and He turned and said, You do just the same. Oh, no, they said, we never do such a thing. Do you not? You have a hundred sheep and lose one--what do you do? I go after it to bring it back. Why do you do that? Why do you not send someone else after it? Because it is my sheep. Precisely. That publican, he is not a publican; he is My publican, My sinner, My boy. God is trying to get you back into the bundle. Every man who is unhappy, every man who does not love Christ and confess Him has dropped out of the bundle. Christ is trying to get him back into the bundle. (A. Mckenzie, D. D.)
The bundle of life
It is a very beautiful expression, especially when you consider what the word bundle would mean in those times. Nowadays we do not usually associate anything precious with a bundle. It is rather the other way. If a household were removing, for instance, it would be the odds and ends, the things of little value, that would likely be put into a bundle for convenience of removal. The precious things of the household would be secured in some safer way than by being simply huddled together in a bundle. A commercial traveller, in journeying by rail, would have his big bundles in the van, but anything particularly valuable would be carried by himself in pocket book or hand bag securely fastened. But in those primitive days they had not such elaborate means of securing safety. In shifting their tents to pastures new, any things of special value would simply be bound up in a bundle, and the husband or wife would see to it that that bundle was well looked after on the journey. It would be with them on their camel, or somewhere where they could always see it. Note, however, in passing, that other metaphor Abigail makes use of with regard to the enemies of David: The souls of thine enemies, them shall He sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. It is a very forcible way of putting it. It just means emphatically the opposite of the care and attention connected with the bundle. What could be thought more lightly of than the stone slung out of a sling? So, the bundle implies that which is particularly valuable, whereas the stone slung out of a sling suggests that which is worthless, not worth taking any trouble or concern about. But let us direct our attention to the other wish that Abigail expresses regarding David. It is a beautiful thought, the thought of being bound in Gods bundle of life.
1. Does it not, for one thing, imply, very specially, safety? They are safe who are bound in Gods bundle of life. It is a great word in the Bible sense--safety--greater than we shall ever comprehend here. Gods desire is to save men from themselves, from their sins, from their spiritual foes.
2. Another thought implied in the phrase, the bundle of life, is that of preciousness. So, in the bundle of life, we have to consider not mans but Gods estimate of values. The neediest are, in a sense, the dearest. Look at the publicans of old as compared with the self-righteous Pharisees.
3. But one thing more also is suggested by the bundle, viz., that it will not always be a bundle. After all, the bundle is but a temporary arrangement. Only for the time being, when a household would be removing, would the valuables be packed up in a bundle, with little regard to arrangement and order. But in the new home the bundle would be opened, and each article put carefully in a place of its own. And so with Gods opening and rearranging of the bundle of life. The words of Abigail, in connection with David, seem to refer to the present life, to Davids safety here from the foes that were assailing him. I am aware that the Jews, nowadays are in the habit of using the phrase in reference to the life beyond. But is it not more in harmony with the idea of a bundle to apply the phrase to the present life? It is here, not hereafter, that things are not as they should be, not as we would wish them to be; it is here that there is the medley and confusion of a bundle. The best and the worst are often in strange positions, and juxtapositions, in this world. And look, too, how those dear to us often get separated, far and wide in life. But the time will come when there shall be separation no more, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. May that be our prayer and trust for us all, that, when all is over, so far as this world is concerned, it will not be for us a being slung out as out of the middle of a sling, but only the opening of the bundle, and the rearrangement and final settlement in the eternal home. But remember, too, that while here, just as the contents of the good wifes bundle, though mixed together for the time being, would still be precious, and still safe, amid all the temporary disorder, so, even here, where things are oft inexplicably mixed, and many things are hard to understand, and harder still to bear, they are nevertheless safe and precious, now and evermore, in His sight, who are bound in Gods bundle of life. (J. S. Maver, M. A.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv23, 25, 27, 29, 30 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
The writer has finished giving background information, so he continues the story. (See: Background Information)
Read full note →
lay before David facedown and bowed herself to the ground
Abigail was being humble and showing that she would obey David because he was a powerful leader.
listen to
"hear"
my master ... your servant ... words of your servant
"you ... my words." Abigail speaks of herself and David as if they are two different people to show that she respects David. (See: Pronouns)
translationWords
David
donkey
bow
lord
guilt
servant
word
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv26, 28, 29 25:26 Abigail began and ended (25:31) her plea by…
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.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.