Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
1 Kings (1 Samuel) Chapter 25
Overview
Sa1 25:1, Samuel dies; Sa1 25:2, David in Paran sends to Nabal; Sa1 25:10, Provoked by Nabal's churlishness, he minds to destroy him; Sa1 25:14, Abigail understanding thereof, Sa1 25:18, takes a present; Sa1 25:23, and by her wisdom, Sa1 25:32, pacifies David; Sa1 25:36, Nabal hearing thereof, dies; Sa1 25:39, David takes Abigail and Ahinoam to be his wives; Sa1 25:44, Michal is given to Phalti.
am 2944, bc 1060, An, Ex, Is 431
Samuel: Sa1 28:3
lamented: Gen 50:11; Num 20:29; Deu 34:8; Act 8:2
in his house: Sa1 7:17; Kg1 2:34; Ch2 33:20; Isa 14:18
the wilderness: Gen 14:6, Gen 21:21; Num 10:12, Num 12:16, Num 13:3, Num 13:26; Psa 120:5
Maon: Sa1 23:24
possessions were: or, business was
Carmel: Not the famous mount Carmel, in the north of Canaan, and in the tribe of Asher; but a city, on a mountain of the same name, in the south of Judah, which seems to have given name to the surrounding territory. Eusebius and Jerome inform us, that there was in their time a town called Carmelia, ten miles east from Hebron, where the Romans kept a garrison, whose position well agrees with this Carmel.
man: Gen 26:13; Sa2 19:32; Psa 17:14, Psa 73:3-7; Luk 16:19-25
three thousand: Gen 13:2; Job 1:3, Job 42:12
shearing: This was a very ancient custom, and appears to have been always attended with festivity. The ancient Romans, however, used to pluck off the wool from the sheep's backs; and hence a fleece was called vellus, a vellendo, from plucking it off. Pliny says, that in his time sheep were not shorn every where, but in some places the wool was still plucked off. Gen 38:13; Sa2 13:23, Sa2 13:24
good: Pro 14:1, Pro 31:26, Pro 31:30, Pro 31:31
was churlish: Sa1 25:10, Sa1 25:11, Sa1 25:17; Psa 10:3; Isa 32:5-7
and he was: Wehoo calibbee, literally, "and he was a Calebite;" but as the word cailev signifies a dog, the Septuagint has understood it as implying a man of canine disposition, and translated it, και ανθρωπος κυνικος, "and he was a doggish man." It is understood in the same way by the Syriac and Arabic.
did shear: Gen 38:13; Sa2 13:23
greet him: etc. Heb. ask him in my name of peace, Sa1 17:22; Gen 43:23
Peace be both: Sa2 18:28 *marg. Ch1 12:18; Psa 122:7; Mat 10:12, Mat 10:13; Luk 10:5; Joh 14:27; Th2 3:16
thy shepherds: In those times, and at the present day, wandering Arabs, under their several chiefs, think that they have a right to exact contributions of provisions, etc., wherever they come. But David, though he lived in the wilderness like the Arab emirs, had not adopted their manners. one of them, at the head of 600 men, would have demanded, from time to time, some provision or present from Nabal's servants, for permitting them to feed at quiet; and would have driven them away from the watering place upon any dislike. David had done nothing of this kind; but had protected them against those who would.
we hurt: Heb. we shamed, Sa1 25:15, Sa1 25:16, Sa1 25:21, Sa1 22:2; Isa 11:6-9; Luk 3:14; Phi 2:15, Phi 4:8
a good day: Neh 8:10-12; Est 9:19; Ecc 11:2; Luk 11:41, Luk 14:12-14
ceased: Heb. rested, or, became quiet, Gen 8:4; Kg2 2:15; Ch2 14:7
Who is David: Sa1 20:30, Sa1 22:7, Sa1 22:8; Exo 5:2; Jdg 9:28; Sa2 20:1; Kg1 12:16; Psa 73:7, Psa 73:8; Psa 123:3, Psa 123:4; Isa 32:5, Isa 32:7
Shall I then: Sa1 25:3, Sa1 24:13; Deu 8:17; Jdg 8:6; Job 31:17; Psa 73:7, Psa 73:8; Pe1 4:9
flesh: Heb. slaughter
give it: Ecc 11:1, Ecc 11:2; Gal 6:10
whom: Sa1 25:14, Sa1 25:15; Joh 9:29, Joh 9:30; Co2 6:9
came: Sa2 24:13; Isa 36:21, Isa 36:22; Heb 13:17
Gird ye: Jos 9:14; Pro 14:29, Pro 16:32, Pro 19:2, Pro 19:11, Pro 25:8; Jam 1:19, Jam 1:20
David also: Sa1 24:5, Sa1 24:6; Rom 12:19-21
two hundred: Sa1 30:9, Sa1 30:10, Sa1 30:21-24
railed on them: Heb. flew upon them, Mar 15:29
very good: Sa1 25:7, Sa1 25:21; Phi 2:15
hurt: Heb. shamed
a wall: Exo 14:22; Job 1:10; Jer 15:20; Zac 2:5
evil: Sa1 20:7, Sa1 20:9, Sa1 20:33; Ch2 25:16; Est 7:7
a son of Belial: Sa1 25:25, Sa1 2:12; Deu 13:13; Jdg 19:22; Sa2 23:6, Sa2 23:7; Kg1 21:10, Kg1 21:13; Ch2 13:7
that a man: Sa1 20:32, Sa1 20:33; Kg2 5:13, Kg2 5:14
made haste: Sa1 25:34; Num 16:46-48; Pro 6:4, Pro 6:5; Mat 5:25
took two: The Eastern bread is generally both thin and small; and answers to our cakes. Gen 32:13-20, Gen 43:11-14; Sa2 17:28, Sa2 17:29; Pro 18:16, Pro 21:14
two bottles: That is, two goatskins' full.
five sheep: Not one sheep to one hundred men.
clusters: Heb. lumps, Raisins dried in the sun, Sa2 16:1
cakes of figs: Figs cured and then pressed together. Now all this provision was a matter of little worth; and had it been granted in the first instance, it would have perfectly satisfied David, and secured his good offices.
But: Pro 31:11, Pro 31:12, Pro 31:27
rode: Kg2 4:24
she came down: David was coming down mount Paran; Abigail was coming down from Carmel.
Surely: Sa1 25:13; Job 30:8; Psa 37:8; Eph 4:26, Eph 4:31; Th1 5:15; Pe1 2:21-23, Pe1 3:9
he hath requited: Gen 44:4; Psa 35:12, Psa 38:20, Psa 109:3-5; Pro 17:13; Jer 18:20; Rom 12:21; Pe1 2:20, Pe1 3:17
So and more: Nothing can justify this conduct of David, which was rash, unjust, and cruel in the extreme. David himself condemns it, and thanks God for being prevented from executing this evil (Sa1 25:32-34). Sa1 3:17, Sa1 14:44, Sa1 20:13, Sa1 20:16; Rut 1:17
if I leave: Sa1 25:34
any that pisseth: etc. This seems to have been a proverbial expression among the Israelites; and may with the utmost propriety be read "any male." Kg1 14:10, Kg1 16:11, Kg1 21:21; Kg2 9:8
fell: Kg2 4:37; Est 8:3; Mat 18:29
Upon: Sa1 25:28; Gen 44:33, Gen 44:34; Sa2 14:9; Plm 1:18, Plm 1:19
let thine: Gen 44:18; Sa2 14:12
audience: Heb. ears
regard: Heb. lay it to his heart, Sa2 13:33; Isa 42:25; Mal 2:2
man of Belial: Sa1 25:17, Sa1 25:26
Nabal: that is, fool
as the Lord liveth: Sa1 25:34, Sa1 22:3; Kg2 2:2, Kg2 4:6
and as thy: Sa1 1:26
the Lord hath: Sa1 25:33; Gen 20:6
avenging thyself: Heb. saving thyself, Psa 18:47, Psa 18:48, Psa 44:3
now let: Sa2 18:32; Jer 29:22; Dan 4:19
blessing: or, present, Sa1 30:26; Gen 33:11; Kg2 5:15; Co2 9:5
follow: Heb. walk at the feet of, Sa1 25:42 *marg. Jdg 4:10; Sa2 16:2
forgive: Sa1 25:24
the Lord: Sa1 15:28; Sa2 7:11, Sa2 7:16, Sa2 7:27; Kg1 9:5; Ch1 17:10, Ch1 17:25; Psa 89:29
fighteth: Sa1 17:47, Sa1 18:17; Sa2 5:2; Ch2 20:15; Eph 6:10, Eph 6:11
evil hath: Sa1 24:6, Sa1 24:7, Sa1 24:11, Sa1 24:17; Kg1 15:5; Psa 119:1-3; Mat 5:16; Luk 23:41, Luk 23:47
bound: 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. Sa1 2:9; Gen 15:1; Deu 33:29; Psa 66:9, Psa 116:15; Mal 3:17; Mat 10:29, Mat 10:30
with the Lord: Joh 10:27-30, Joh 14:19, Joh 17:21, Joh 17:23; Col 3:3, Col 3:4; Pe1 1:5
sling out: Jer 10:18
as out of the middle of a sling: Heb. in the midst of the bow of a sling
according: Sa1 13:14, Sa1 15:28, Sa1 23:17; Psa 89:20
grief: Heb. staggering, or, stumbling, Pro 5:12, Pro 5:13; Rom 14:21; Co2 1:12
avenged: Sa1 25:33, Sa1 24:15, Sa1 26:23; Sa2 22:48; Psa 94:1; Rom 12:19
remember: Sa1 25:40; Gen 40:14; Luk 23:42
David overlooks the rich and seasonable present of Abigail, though pressed with hunger and wearied with travel; but her advice, which disarmed his rage, and calmed his revenge, draws forth these high and affectionate gratulations. These were his joyful and glorious trophies; not over his enemies, but over himself.
Gen 24:27; Exo 18:10; Ezr 7:27; Psa 41:12, Psa 41:13, Psa 72:18; Luk 1:68; Co2 8:16
blessed: Psa 141:5; Pro 9:9, Pro 17:10, Pro 25:12, Pro 27:21, Pro 28:23
which hast: Sa1 25:26
avenging: Sa1 25:26, Sa1 25:31, Sa1 24:19, Sa1 26:9, Sa1 26:10
kept me back: Sa1 25:26
hasted: Sa1 25:18, Sa1 11:11; Jos 10:6, Jos 10:9
there had: Sa1 25:22
Go up: Sa1 20:42; Sa2 15:9; Kg2 5:19; Luk 7:50, Luk 8:48
accepted: Gen 19:21; Job 34:19
a feast: Sa2 13:23; Est 1:3-7; Luk 14:12
merry: Sa2 13:28; Kg1 20:16; Pro 20:1, Pro 23:29-35; Ecc 2:2, Ecc 2:3, Ecc 10:19; Isa 28:3, Isa 28:7, Isa 28:8; Jer 51:57; Dan 5:1-5; Nah 1:10; Hab 2:15, Hab 2:16; Luk 21:34; Rom 13:13; Eph 5:18; Th1 5:7, Th1 5:8
she told him: Sa1 25:19; Psa 112:5; Mat 10:16; Eph 5:14
had told him: Sa1 25:22, Sa1 25:34
his heart: Deu 28:28; Job 15:21, Job 15:22; Pro 23:29-35
the Lord: Sa1 25:33, Sa1 6:9; Exo 12:29; Kg2 15:5, Kg2 19:35; Ch2 10:15; Act 12:23
Blessed: Sa1 25:32; Jdg 5:2; Sa2 22:47-49; Psa 58:10, Psa 58:11; Rev 19:1-4
pleaded: Pro 22:23; Lam 3:58-60; Mic 7:9
kept his servant: Sa1 25:26, Sa1 25:34; Hos 2:6, Hos 2:7; Co2 13:7; Th1 5:23; Ti2 4:18
hath returned: Sa2 3:28, Sa2 3:29; Kg1 2:44; Est 7:10; Psa 7:16
to take her: It is probable that David had heard that Saul, to cut off his pretensions to the throne, had married Michal to Phalti; and this justified him in taking Abigail, it not being then unlawful for a man to have several wives. This conduct of David's corresponds with the manner in which the Oriental princes generally form their matrimonial alliances. "The king of Abyssinia," says Mr. Bruce, "sends an officer to the house where the lady lives, who announces to her that it is the king's pleasure she should remove instantly to the palace. She then dresses herself in the best manner, and immediately obeys. Thenceforward he assigns her an apartment in the palace, and gives her a house elsewhere in any part she chooses." Pro 18:22, Pro 19:14, Pro 31:10, Pro 31:30
David sent: Gen 24:37, Gen 24:38, Gen 24:51
thine: Rut 2:10, Rut 2:13; Pro 15:33, Pro 18:12
to wash: Gen 18:4; Joh 13:3-5; Ti1 5:10
Abigail: Gen 24:61-67; Psa 45:10, Psa 45:11
after her: Heb. at her feet, Sa1 25:27
both: Gen 2:24; Mat 19:5, Mat 19:8
his wives: Sa1 27:3, Sa1 30:5; Sa2 5:13-16
But Saul: Rather, "For Saul," etc., as the particle ו, wav, frequently signifies; this being the cause why David took another wife.
Phalti: Sa2 3:14, Sa2 3:14, Phaltiel
Gallim: This town appears to have been situated in the tribe of Benjamin, as it is mentioned in Isa 10:30, with Michmash, Geba, etc.