1Sa 25:1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
And Samuel died - Samuel lived, as is supposed, about ninety-eight years; was in the government of Israel before Saul from sixteen to twenty years; and ceased to live, according to the Jews, about four months before the death of Saul; but according to Calmet and others, two years. But all this is very uncertain; how long he died before Saul, cannot be ascertained.
And Samuel died - In the interval, when Saul and David were parted, and before they saw each other again; according to the Jewish chronology, Samuel died four months before Saul; but other Jewish writers say he died seven months before; Abarbinel thinks it was a year or two before; which is most likely and indeed certain, since David was in the country of the Philistines after this a full year and four months, if the true sense of the phrase is expressed in 1Sa_27:7; and Saul was not then dead; and so another Jewish chronologer says, that Saul died two years after Samuel.
Buried him in his house - Probably this means, not his dwelling-house, but the house or tomb he had made for his sepulture. Perhaps they buried him in the place where his house was, in some field or garden belonging to it.
David went down to the wilderness of Paran - This was either on the confines of Judea, or between the mountains of Judah and Mount Sinai; it is evident from the history that it was not far from Carmel, on the south confines of Judah. 1 Samuel 25:1 And Samuel died, and all Israel assembled, and bewailed him, and they bury him in his house in Armathaim: and David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Maon. (Septuagint)
All the Israelites lamented him - The death of Samuel is inserted here, because it occurred at that time. The fact that all Israel assembled together to his burial, and lamented him, i.e., mourned for him, was a sign that his labors as a prophet were recognised by the whole nation as a blessing for Israel . Since the days of Moses and Joshua, no man had arisen to whom the covenant nation owed so much as to Samuel, who has been justly called the reformer and restorer of the theocracy.
All Israel lamented Samuel - He prayed daily for them.
1Sa 25:2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
Carmel - Not Mount Carmel on the west of the plain of Esdraelon, but the Carmel close to Maon
there was a man in Maon - A city of the tribe of Judah , from whence the wilderness had its name before mentioned;
the man was very great - in worldly substance, though not in natural wisdom and knowledge, and especially in true religion and piety: His property consisted in cattle, and he was considered wealthy, according to the ideas of that age.
1Sa 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
The name of the man was Nabal - The word signifies to be foolish, base, or villainous. This was hardly his proper name, but was a surname by which he was popularly designated on account of his folly.
she was a woman of good understanding - she was not only of a good understanding in things natural, civil, and domestic, but in things spiritual, as her speech to David shows,
he was of the house of Caleb - 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 .
he was of the house of Caleb--of course, of the same tribe with David himself; but many versions consider Caleb ("dog") not as a proper, but a common noun, and render it, "he was snappish as a dog."
1Sa 25:4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
1Sa 25:5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
1Sa 25:6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
Peace be both to thee - This is the ancient form of sending greetings to a friend: Peace to Thee, peace to thy Household, and peace to all that Thou Hast. That is, May both thyself, thy family, and all that pertain unto thee, be in continual prosperity! Perhaps David, by this salutation, wished Nabal to understand that he had acted so towards him and his property that nothing had been destroyed, and that all had been protected;
That liveth in prosperity - By this expression David both congratulates Nabal's felicity, and tacitly minds him of the distress in which he and his men were.
1Sa 25:7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
Thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not - It is most evident that David had a claim upon Nabal, for very essential services performed to his herdmen at Carmel . He not only did them no hurt, and took none of their flocks for the supply of his necessities, but he protected them from the rapacity of others; they were a Wall unto us, said Nabal’s servants, both by night and day.
neither was there ought missing unto them - they did not steal a sheep or lamb from them, as was common for soldiers to do; nor did they suffer any of the thieves to rob them, or any of the wild beasts to hurt them, as much as in them lay; so careful were they of them, and were a wall unto them by night and day, as Nabal's servants owned, 1Sa_25:16; and this was the case:
I have heard that thou hast shearers - Men employed in shearing his sheep, which was a time of feasting and gladness, and therefore David sent his young men to him at this time with his compliments upon it; and in order to obtain what he intended by this message to him, he observes the favors he and his men had done to his servants, and the advantages which they had received from them:
1Sa 25:8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
Whatsoever cometh to thine hand - As thou art making a great feast for thy servants, and I and my men, as having essentially served thee, would naturally come in for a share were we present; send a portion by my ten young men, for me and my men, that we also may rejoice with you. Certainly this was a very reasonable and a very modest request.
for we are come in a good day - a day in which Nabal made a feast for his shearers, as was usual then, and at such times as persons are generally cheerful and merry, so free and liberal, and as there were plenty of provisions, not only enough for the guests and shearers, but to spare, and there was no need for an increase of expense, it might upon the whole be concluded it was a proper time for David to apply for accommodations for himself and his men:
to thy son David - David, who styled himself his son, being of the same tribe with Nabal, and Nabal his senior.
1Sa 25:9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
and ceased - from speaking, waiting for Nabal's answer; or "they rested", from the fatigues of their journey; which they did not until they had delivered their message to Nabal, and then they took the liberty to sit down and rest themselves;
1Sa 25:10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
Who is David - Nabal’s answer shows the surliness of his disposition. In a very haughty manner, in great wrath, just as churlish covetous persons do, when they do not care to give what is asked of them: It was unjust to refuse so reasonable a request; and the manner of the refusal was highly insulting. It is true what his own servants said of him, He is such a son of Belial that one cannot speak to him, 1Sa_25:17.
who is the son of Jesse - his two questions plainly shows he did know him, though he speaks with contempt of him, calling him "the son of Jesse", as Saul often did.
there be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his master - which words seem plainly to strike at David himself, and suggest that he had revolted from and rebelled against Saul his master, as well as received and protected fugitives and renegades, such as fled from their masters and from their creditors; 1Sa_22:2.
1Sa 25:11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
Shall I then take my bread, and my water - Which include all food and liquors, everything eatable and drinkable; and "water" may be particularly mentioned, because very scarce in the wilderness, and so precious; though the Septuagint version has "wine" instead of "water": 1 Samuel 25:11 And shall I take my bread, and my wine, and my beasts that I have slain for my shearers, and shall I give them to men of whom I know not whence they are? (Septuagint)
1Sa 25:12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
David's young men turned their way - Their backs on him, without making any reply; and though they did not return railing for railing.
1Sa 25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
However intelligible David's wrath may appear in the situation in which he was placed, it was not right before God, but a sudden burst of sinful passion, which was unseemly in a servant of God. By carrying out his intention, he would have sinned against the Lord and against His people. But the Lord preserved him from this sin by the fact that, just at the right time, Abigail, the intelligent and pious wife of Nabal, heard of the affair, and was able to appease the wrath of David by her immediate and kindly interposition.
1Sa 25:14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
one of the young men told Abigail - Not one of David's young men, but one of Nabal's young men or servants, one of those David directs him to for the truth of what he said, 1Sa_25:8; this was one of those that had been employed in feeding sheep in the wilderness, where David was, and knew him, but was now at Carmel, and was present when David's messengers came to Nabal, and was privy to what passed:
and he railed on them - gave them very abusive language, or "he flew at them"; or "upon" them, in great wrath and fury, calling them hard names, bidding them begone about their business; the allusion is to a ravenous bird, which will fly at persons when it apprehends its young in any danger.
1Sa 25:15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
neither missed we anything - of our flocks, or anything belonging to us; they neither robbed us themselves, nor suffered others to rob us:
1Sa 25:16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
They were a wall unto us both by night and day - They had been as safe with David’s men around them as if they had been dwelling in a walled town. Protecting and defending them against the Philistines, who, as they robbed the threshing floors of Keilah, would have plundered the flocks of Nabal; against others who lived by plunder, and against the wild beasts of the desert, who otherwise would have carried off many of their sheep and lambs, by night or by day:
1Sa 25:17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
know and consider what thou wilt do - For the preservation of her family:
for evil is determined against our master and all his household - which he concluded, either from something that dropped from David's messengers, as they turned away from Nabal; or from the martial spirit of David himself, who would never put up such an affront and indignity cast upon him; or from some intelligence he had of David's arming his men, and marching to take vengeance:
for he is such a son of Belial - meaning Nabal, who was such a worthless, passionate, and ill natured man, such a lawless and imperious one, that he would not allow a servant to speak to him about anything; and suggests, that it would change nothing should Abigail speak to Nabal about it, but it would be most advisable for her to consider herself what was to be done immediately, without consulting him:
1Sa 25:18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
Two bottles - Rather, “two skins,” each of which would contain many gallons. These leather vessels varied in size according to the skin they were made of, and the use they were to be put to. The smaller and more portable kind were made of the skin of a kid: larger ones of the skin of a he-goat. The hide is pulled off the animal without ripping up; the places where the legs, etc., were are sewed up, and then the skin appears one large bag. The provisions were all ready to Abigail’s hand, having been provided for the sheep-shearing feast.
Cakes of figs - Figs dried, then pressed together and made into lumps.
Then Abigail made haste - As the case required, her family being in imminent danger:
five sheep ready dressed - killed and made ready to cook;
five measures of parched corn - or five seahs, 1 Samuel 25:18 And Abigaia hasted, and took two hundred loaves, and two vessels of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five ephahs of fine flour, and one homer of dried grapes, and two hundred cakes of figs, and put them upon asses. (Septuagint)
1Sa 25:19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
she said to her servants, go on before me - With the present, the sight of which she wisely considered would in a great measure pacify David, and prepare him to hear patiently what she had to say to him:
1Sa 25:20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
The covert of the hill - Probably a defile or glen, literally a “secret place,” as in 1Sa_19:2. She was riding down into this glen from one side, while David and his men were descending the opposite hill. It is perhaps mentioned that she came by this “secret place,” because she chose this path to escape the observation of her husband or of anyone else.
The covert of the hill - by the side of it, which was covered with bushes, and she rode among them, in a way that led through them, and so was not seen by David and his men; or by the shadow of the hill, toward the bottom of it, where by reason of that, and the opposite hill, it was darkish, and they could not see each other:
She came down and David came down - David was coming down Mount Paran ; Abigail was coming down from Carmel .
1Sa 25:21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
he hath requited me evil for good - he had requited evil to him by denying to send him any of his provisions, and by abusing him and his men with opprobrious language; and this was done in return for the good deeds he had done in protecting his servants and his flocks in the wilderness, and for the good words and respectful message he had sent unto him.
1Sa 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.
Any that pisseth against the wall - The concluding phrase denotes the utter destruction of a family, and is rightly explained to mean “every male,” perhaps with the idea, “down to the very meanest member of the household.” This seems to have been a proverbial expression among the Israelites; and may with the utmost propriety be read “any male.”
So and more also do God - Nothing can justify this part of David’s conduct. Whatever his provocation might have been, he had suffered, properly speaking, no wrongs; and his resolution to cut off a whole innocent family, because Nabal had acted ungenerously towards him, was abominable and cruel. David himself condemns this most rash and unwarrantable conduct, and thanks God for having prevented him from doing this evil, 1Sa_25:32, etc.
So and more also do God unto the enemies of David - Give them as much health and prosperity, as much wealth and riches, as Nabal has, and much more:
So and more also do God unto the enemies of David - That is, unto David himself. But because it might seem ominous to curse himself, therefore instead of David, he mentions David's enemies.
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,
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.
1Sa 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.
upon me let this iniquity be - which her husband had been guilty of; she desires it might be transferred from him to her, and be reckoned as if done by her; she would have it imputed to herself, and all the blame lie upon her, and the punishment for it be inflicted on her; for iniquity may be put for the punishment of iniquity: this was very artfully said, as well as expressed great affection for her husband, and care of his life; for she knew, if she could get the fault removed from him to her, she would be able to vindicate herself, and her innocence would soon appear; nor would this strong affection for her husband fail of answering some good purpose, as she full well knew:
1Sa 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.
regard this man of Belial, even Nabal - He is a worthless man, it must be owned, a weak foolish man, rather to be despised than regarded by him; what either he says or does is unworthy of the notice of any, and much less of so great a person as David was: Nabal is his name, which signifies a fool:
1Sa 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.
Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth - Which is an oath, and respects either what goes before, that she never saw the young men that were sent to Nabal, or to what follows, the providence of God in preventing David from shedding blood, which she was sure of by an impulse on her own mind, and by observing a change in David's countenance:
now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal - meaning Saul and those with him, wishing they might be as inconsiderable as Nabal; as unable, as weak, and impotent as he to do him any hurt, and as short lived, and cut off by the hand God, as he would be; for, according to one scholar, she prophesied under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
1Sa 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.
And now this blessing - The present, consisting of the things mentioned in 1Sa_25:18; which came as a blessing from God, and with good will from her:
And now this blessing - So a gift or present is called here, 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. It is only in the third line that she finally mentions the present, but in such a manner that she does not offer it directly to David, but describes it as a gift for the men.
1Sa 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.
For the Lord will make a sure house - Abigail’s firm persuasion of David’s kingdom stands upon the same footing as Rahab’s conviction of God’s gift of Canaan to the Israelites Jos_2:9 And she said to the men, I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that your terror has fallen on us, and that all those who live in the land faint because of you. Both testified to God’s revelation and their own faith. This is doubtless the reason why Abigail’s speech is recorded. Compare 1Sa_2:35 And I will raise up a faithful priest to Myself, one who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. and 2Sa_7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. 1Ki_11:38 And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as David My servant did, it shall happen that I will be with you and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.
for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house - or a firm kingdom, would raise him to the kingdom of Israel, and establish it in his posterity, that it should not be taken from him, as it would be from Saul:
forgive the trespass of thine handmaid - The trespasses, either the sin of her husband, she had taken upon herself, or her boldness in troubling him with her petitions and solicitations, and even with the present she had brought:
1Sa 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.
In the bundle - Rather, “the bag,” in which anything precious, or important to be preserved, was put, and the bag was then tied up. Preserved in this life and the eternal life.
bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord - the Jews refer this to eternal life in the world to come, and the safety and security of his soul hereafter; so the Targum,"the soul of my lord shall be treasured up in the treasury of eternal life, before the Lord thy God:'' hence they speak of the souls of the righteous being laid up under the throne of glory, in proof of which they produce this text;
bound up in the bundle of life - 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.
The souls of your enemies shall he sling out - Far from being bound and kept together in union with the Fountain of life, he will cast them off from himself as a stone is cast out from a sling. This betokens both force and violence. The comparison is especially appropriate as addressed to David, whose feat with his sling was so celebrated 1Sa_17:49.
The souls of your enemies shall he sling out - as out of the middle of a sling; that is, remove them swiftly and suddenly, and with force, out of the world, as a stone is slung out of the middle of a sling; Jer_10:18 For so says the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the people of the land at this time, and will distress them, so that they may find Me.
a man is risen to pursue thee - His life, to take it away, meaning Saul, whom she chose not to name, because he was king:
1Sa 25:30 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;
shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel - that is, actually raised him to be, and settled him as king upon the throne of Israel; for he was both appointed and anointed already; and this Abigail knew, and was perhaps now well known in Israel.
1Sa 25:31 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.
then remember thine handmaid - the advice she gave not to shed blood, and take vengeance, for which he would then be thankful, and gratefully remember: her meaning is, that when he should be king, and she should apply to him on any account, to have justice done her, and to be assisted and relieved when oppressed, that he would then remember her, and show her favor.
There shall be no grief - The mind and conscience will be free from all the torment which such an action would cause. How comfortable it would be to him to remember, that he had for conscience to God, restrained his passions.
Causeless - Which she signifies would be done if he should go on. For though Nabal had been guilty of abominable rudeness, and ingratitude; yet he had done nothing worthy of death, by the laws of God or of man. And whatsoever he had done, the rest of his family were innocent.
Avenged - Which is directly contrary to God's law, Lev_19:18 You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Deu_32:35 Vengeance and retribution belong to Me. Their foot shall slide in time, for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come on them make haste.
1Sa 25:32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
blessed be the Lord God of Israel - he saw plainly the hand of God in it, and in the first place acknowledges the goodness of divine Providence , in directing her to take the step she did.
1Sa 25:33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
From coming to shed blood - Hereby it plainly appears, that oaths whereby men bind themselves to any sin, are null and void: and as it was a sin to make them; so it is adding sin to sin to perform them.
1Sa 25:34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth - An oath for the confirmation of what he was about to say:
1Sa 25:35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
David received of her hand - Her present, 1Sa_25:18; and which he kindly took for his own use, as well as for his men; for it was a present for a prince:
have accepted thy person - done as she desired, forgave the offence
1Sa 25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king - both for the number of dishes on his table and of guests at it though only on the account of sheep shearing;
for he was very drunken - which was a very ill example for the master of the feast to set, and was one instance among others of his folly, and of his conduct answering to his name:
she told him nothing - As he was then incapable of admonition, his reason and conscience being both asleep.
1Sa 25:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
He became as a stone - Probably his violent anger at hearing it brought on a fit of apoplexy to which he was disposed by the drunken revel of the night before. After lying senseless for ten days he died.
His heart died within him - He was thunderstruck, and was so terrified at the apprehension of what he had escaped, that the fear overcame his mind, he became insensible to all things around him, probably refused all kinds of nourishment, and died in ten days.
His heart died within him - He probably fainted from horror at the perilous situation in which he had unconsciously placed himself; and such a shock had been given him by the fright to his whole system, that he rapidly pined and died.
1Sa 25:38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
1Sa 25:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
To take her to him to wife - It is likely that he had heard before this that Saul, to cut off all his pretensions to the throne, had married Michal to Phalti; and this justified David in taking Abigail or any other woman; and, according to the then custom, it was not unlawful for David to take several wives. By his marriage with Abigail, it is probable he became possessed of all Nabal’s property in Carmel and Maon.
for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head - and upon no other, none of his family suffered but himself, and which was another cause of thankfulness to David; had he been suffered to have done as he in his wrath determined, not only Nabal, but all the males in his house, had been cut off; but now, through the righteous judgment of God, only Nabal suffered, and not any of his family:
to take her to him to wife - for being both a beautiful and wise woman, he thought her a proper person to be his wife; which she might lawfully become, Nabal being dead, and Michal, David's wife, being taken from him, and given to another man, with whom she lived in adultery; or as divorced by David, David by the law of God was free from her.
to take her to him to wife - Abigail believed that David would be king over Israel , and greatly esteemed his pious and excellent character. She deemed his proposal of marriage honourable, and advantageous to her, notwithstanding his present difficulties. With great humility, and doubtless agreeably to the customs of those times, she consented, being willing to share his trails.
1Sa 25:40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
1Sa 25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
bowed herself on her face to the earth - As she did before David, 1Sa_25:23; and did as she would have done had he been present, considering his messengers as representing him and therefore showed the same respect and reverence and did the same honor, as if he had been there in person:
let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord - which she said through her great humility, this being one of the meanest services she could be put to; intimating, that she was so far from being worthy to be the wife of such a man that she was only fit and it would be honor enough to her to perform the meanest services to those that waited upon him; or her sense is that it would be enough for her to be the wife of one of David's servants, and not his; it being the business of a wife to wash the feet of her husband.
1Sa 25:42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
Abigail hasted and arose - She had no objection nor hesitation in her mind about marrying David but at once consented, and immediately prepared for her journey, she knew and believed he would be king of Israel, 1Sa_25:30; and though he could not support her, she had enough to support herself, and supply him, till he came to the throne: and
with five damsels of hers - whom she took with her, partly to wait upon her, and partly for her honor, and the honor of David, whom she was going to marry:
she went after the messengers of David - not following them directly, but some time after they were gone; partly for the sake of decency, and partly that they going before might acquaint David with the success of their message, and he might prepare to receive Abigail when she came:
1Sa 25:43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
David also took Ahinoam - In the list of David’s wives Ahinoam is mentioned first 2Sa_3:2; 1Ch_3:1. But this may be only because her son was the first-born. David’s now taking two wives was an indication of his growing power and importance as a chieftain. The number was increased to six when he reigned in Hebron 1Ch_3:1, and still further when he became king of all Israel 2Sa_5:12-13.
David also took Ahinoam - Many think that this was his wife before he took Abigail; she is always mentioned first in the list of his wives, and she was the mother of his eldest son Ammon.
Of Jezreel - Not the well-known city of Samaria , which gave its name to the plain of Esdraelon, but a town of Judah , near Carmel . There were two places of this name; one in the tribe of Issachar, the other in the tribe of Judah .
they were also both of them his wives - polygamy, though not agreeably to the law of nature, nor the law of God, was a custom which prevailed in those times, which good men gave into, though not to be commended for it. The first polygamous marriage took place in the line of Cain. Genesis 4: 19 And Lamech took two wives to himself. The name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah.
1Sa 25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
Saul gave his daughter - Saul’s giving Michal to Phalti was intended to mark the final rupture of his own relations with David. After the death of Saul, however, David persuaded Ishbosheth to give him Michal back again. Phalti or Phaltiel was compelled by Abner to restore Michal to David at that time 2Sa_3
Gallim - A city of Benjamin, and in the neighborhood of another town called Laish. It is likely therefore that Saul chose this man because he was of his own tribe.
