1 Samuel 25

1 When Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet of Israel] died [passed away, came to the end of his life], all [every single one, the entire nation] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] gathered [assembled, came together] to mourn [lament, express deep sadness] for him; and they buried [interred, laid to rest] him at his home [house, dwelling place] in Ramah [a city in Palestine]. Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] set out [arose, rose up] and went down [descended, traveled to a lower place] to the Wilderness [desert, open field] of Paran [a desert area in Arabia]. word study 2 Now there was a man [a male person, an individual] in Maon whose business [possessions, deeds] was in Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field]. He was a very wealthy [great, mighty] man with a thousand [a large number] goats [female goats, kids] and three thousand [a multitude] sheep [a flock], which he was shearing [cutting, harvesting] in Carmel [a place of abundance]. word study 3 His name was Nabal [a foolish man], and his wife’s name was Abigail [a woman of good understanding]. She was an intelligent [wise and discerning] and beautiful [pleasant and lovely] woman, but her husband, a Calebite [a descendant of Caleb], was harsh [severe and cruel] and evil [morally bad and wicked] in his dealings [actions and conduct]. word study 4 While David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] was in the wilderness [a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in], he heard [to hear and listen, often implying attention and obedience] that Nabal [an Israelite who lived during King David’s time, known for being foolish] was shearing [to cut or clip, like sheep or hair] sheep [a flock of sheep or goats, sometimes used to describe people in a figurative sense]. word study 5 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] sent ten young men [youth, from infancy to adolescence] and instructed them, “Go up [to ascend, rise] to Nabal [a foolish Israelite] at Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field]. Greet him [ask of him, salute him] in my name [fame, renown, reputation] [with peace, shalom, completeness and wellness] word study 6 and say to him, ‘Long life [prosperity, well-being] to you, and peace [shalom, completeness, wellness] to you and your house [family, dwelling place] and to all [everything, every possession] that belongs to you [is yours, under your care]. word study 7 Now [at this present time] I hear [have been informed, learned by report] that it is time [season, appointed moment] for shearing [to cut or shave the wool from sheep]. When your shepherds [those who care for and tend your flocks] were with us [in our company, together], we did not harass [mistreat, wrong or oppress] them, and nothing of theirs [not even the smallest thing] was missing [lacking, absent] the whole time [entire duration, all the while] they were in Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful region]. word study 8 Ask [inquire of, seek information from] your young men [youth, servants], and they will tell [declare, inform] you. So let my young men [servants, attendants] find [discover, attain] favor [graciousness, kindness] with you, for we have come [arrived, entered] on the day [time, occasion] of a feast [celebration, gathering]. Please [I pray, kindly] give [provide, bestow] whatever [anything, all that] you can afford [have available, find in your hand] to your servants [attendants, slaves] and to your son [child, descendant] David [beloved, leader].’” word study 9 When David’s young men [young servants, attendants] arrived, they relayed [spoke, communicated] all these words [messages, matters] to Nabal [a foolish man, lacking discernment] on behalf of David. Then they [ceased, rested, waited patiently] waited. word study 10 But Nabal [a foolish and stubborn man] asked them, “Who is David [the future king of Israel, a son of Jesse]? Who is this son [a descendant] of Jesse [a member of the tribe of Judah]? Many servants [slaves, bondmen] these days [in this present time] are breaking away [rebelling, turning against] from their masters [lords, rulers]. word study 11 Why should I take [as my own, seize] my bread [food, sustenance] and water [refreshment, life-giving liquid] and the meat [flesh, slaughtered animals] I have slaughtered [killed, prepared] for my shearers [workers, those who cut the wool], and give [offer, provide] them to these men [individuals, strangers] whose origin [source, beginnings] I do not know [am unaware of, have no knowledge of]?” word study 12 So David’s [young] men [youth, from infancy to adolescence] turned around [on their way, reversing direction] and went back [to return, to turn back], and they relayed [to tell, to declare openly] to him all [everything, the entirety] these [specific] words [things, matters, or affairs]. word study 13 And David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] said to his men [soldiers, followers], “Strap on [gird, fasten] your swords [cutting instruments, weapons]!” So David and all his men put on [girded] their swords, and about four hundred men [a large group of warriors] followed David, while two hundred stayed [remained, dwelt] with the supplies [articles, utensils, equipment]. word study 14 Meanwhile, one [a certain] of Nabal’s young men [servants, youths] informed Nabal’s wife Abigail [a wise and kind woman], “Look [behold, take notice], David [the future king of Israel] sent messengers [representatives] from the wilderness [the desert, a desolate place] to greet [salute, bless] our master [lord, ruler], but he [Nabal] scolded [railed at, insulted] them [in a harsh manner]. word study 15 Yet these men [very kind and gentle] were very good [pleasant, beneficial] to us. When we were in the field [out in the open land, a flat area of land used for cultivation], we were not harassed [mistreated, hurt], and nothing of ours went missing [was lost, stolen] the whole time [all the days] we lived among them [in their company, with them]. word study 16 They were a wall [of protection, like the walls of Jerusalem] around us, both [by night and] day and night, the whole time [all the days] we were herding [caring for, tending to] our sheep [flock] near them [with them, in their presence]. word study 17 Now consider [take heed, think carefully] carefully what you must do, because disaster [evil, calamity] looms over our master [lord, ruler] and all his household [family, those under his care]. For he is such a scoundrel [son of Belial, wicked person] that nobody can speak [communicate, reason] to him [approach, talk to]!” word study 18 Then Abigail [hastened, made haste] hurried and took two hundred loaves [cakes] of bread, two skins [bottles, leather bags] of wine, five butchered sheep [already slaughtered, ready dressed], five seahs [measures] of roasted [parched] grain, a hundred clusters [bunches] of raisins, and two hundred cakes [lumps] of figs [dried figs]. She loaded them on donkeys [asses] word study 19 and said [spoke, commanded] to her young men [servants, attendants], “Go ahead of me [go on before me, proceed]. I will be right behind you [I come after you, I will follow].” But she did not [refused to, failed to] tell [inform, declare] her husband Nabal [her foolish husband]. word study 20 As Abigail came riding [on the back of] her donkey [a male donkey] into a mountain [hill country, a high place] ravine [a secret or hidden place, covert], she saw David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] and his men [individuals, males] coming down [descending, going lower] toward her, and she met [encountered, came face to face with] them. word study 21 Now David had just finished saying, “In vain [to no purpose, without reward] I have protected [kept, watched over] all that belonged to this man [Nabal, a foolish and evil person] in the wilderness [a desert, a place of trial and testing]. Nothing [not a single thing, no loss] that belongs to him has gone missing [been lost, perished], yet he has paid me back [repaid, rewarded] evil [harm, wickedness] for good [kindness, benevolence]. word study 22 May God [Elohim, the supreme Judge] punish David, and ever so severely [with great vengeance], if I let one of Nabal’s men [any male person, one who pisseth against the wall] survive until morning [the break of day, the dawning of the light].” word study 23 When Abigail [the wise and kind Israelite woman] saw David [the youngest son of Jesse and a king of Israel], she quickly [with haste, in a rush] got off the donkey [a male donkey], fell [to descend, to prostrate oneself] facedown [on her face, in a posture of respect], and bowed [to bow down, to worship] before him [in his presence, with reverence]. word study 24 She fell [prostrated herself, bowed down] at his feet [in humility and respect] and said, “My lord [master, ruler], may the blame [iniquity, guilt] be on me alone [upon me, on my account], but please [I pray, I beseech] let your servant [maidservant, handmaid] speak to you; hear [listen, obey] the words [things, matters] of your servant [handmaid, maidservant]. word study 25 My lord [master, ruler] should pay no attention [regard, consider] to this scoundrel [worthless man, good-for-nothing] Nabal, for he lives up to his name [lives consistently with his character]: His name means Fool [one without sense, a foolish person], and folly [wickedness, foolishness] accompanies [is with, follows] him. I, your servant [maidservant, handmaid], did not see [perceive, notice] my lord’s young men [youth, attendants] whom you sent [dispatched, commissioned]. word study 26 Now, my lord [master, ruler], as surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives and you yourself live, the LORD [the supreme God] has held you back [withheld, restrained] from coming to bloodshed [shedding blood, violence] and avenging yourself with your own hand [taking revenge, punishing]. May your enemies [those who hate you, adversaries] and those who seek [search for, intend] harm [evil, bad] for my lord [master, ruler] be like Nabal [a foolish, wicked man]. word study 27 Now [at this time, currently] let this gift [blessing, present] your servant [maidservant, female attendant] has brought [come, approached] to my lord [master, ruler] be given [to give, put, or set] to the young men [youth, boys] who follow [go, walk, or attend] you [my lord, master]. word study 28 Please [I pray thee] forgive your servant’s [handmaid’s, female servant’s] offense [transgression, revolt against God], for the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will surely [certainly] make a lasting [sure, faithful] dynasty [house, family line] for my lord [master, leader], because he fights [engages in battle, wages war] the LORD’s [Yehovah’s] battles [wars, conflicts]. May no evil [bad, moral harm] be found [discovered, detected] in you as long as you live [all your days, throughout your life]. word study 29 And should someone [rise up] pursue you and seek [search for, try to find] your life [soul, very being], then the life [soul, essence] of my lord [master, ruler] will be bound [tied, secured] securely [firmly, safely] by the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] in the bundle [package, collection] of the living [those who have life, the alive]. But He shall fling [sling, throw] away the lives [souls, beings] of your enemies [adversaries, those who oppose] like stones [rocks, pebbles] from a sling [weapon, throwing device]. word study 30 When the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has done [accomplished, fulfilled] for my lord [master, ruler] all the good [pleasant, beneficial] He promised [spoken, declared], and when He has appointed [commanded, ordained] you ruler [leader, commander] over Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], word study 31 then my lord [the master, ruler] will have no remorse [grief, guilt of conscience] or guilt of conscience [offense of heart] over needless [causeless, without reason] bloodshed [shedding of innocent blood] and revenge [avenging himself]. And when the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has dealt well [been good, shown favor] with my lord, may you remember [recall, not forget] your maidservant [female servant, handmaid].” word study 32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed [praised, honored] be the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], who sent [appointed, directed] you to meet [encounter, come before] me this [specific, present] day [a period of time, an occasion]! word study 33 Blessed [praised, honored] is your discernment [wise judgment, good sense], and blessed [praised, honored] are you, because today [this day, at this time] you kept me from bloodshed [shedding blood, violence] and from avenging [taking revenge, punishing] myself by my own hand [with my own strength, power]. word study 34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], lives, who has restrained [withheld, kept back] me from harming you, if you had not come [hastened, rushed] quickly to meet [encounter, come face to face] me, then surely no male [any that pisseth against the wall, one who urinates] belonging to Nabal would have been left [remained, been spared] alive [living, with life] by morning [the break of day, dawn] light [natural light, spiritual illumination].” word study 35 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] accepted from her hand [the open hand] what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home [to your dwelling place, including a family home] in peace [completeness, wellness, and friendship]. See, I have heeded [listened and obeyed] your voice [the sound of a person speaking] and granted [lifted or raised, like lifting a burden] your request [petition, or a specific ask].” word study 36 When Abigail [the wise and kind-hearted] returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast [like the feast of a king, a grand celebration] fit for a king, in high spirits [with a merry heart, full of joy] and very drunk [intoxicated, under the influence]. So she told him nothing [no news, not a word] until morning light [the break of day, the dawn]. word study 37 In the morning [at the break of day, when the wine had worn off] when Nabal [a foolish and stubborn man] was sober [no longer intoxicated, in his right mind], his wife [Abigail, a wise and discerning woman] told him about these events [the things that had happened with David], and his heart [the center of his emotions, will, and intellect] failed [died, became like stone] within him and he became like a stone [unresponsive, paralyzed, without feeling or movement]. word study 38 About [approximately, nearly] ten [a decade, a period of completion] days [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] later, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] struck [to smite, to punish] Nabal [a foolish and stubborn man] dead [to die, to cease living, to experience spiritual death]. word study 39 On hearing [learning, being informed] that Nabal [a foolish and stubborn man] was dead, David said, “Blessed be [praised and worshiped] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], who has upheld [supported and defended] my cause [my right, my innocence] against the reproach [shame, insult] of Nabal and has restrained [withheld, prevented] His servant from evil [harm, wickedness]. For the LORD has brought [returned, turned back] the wickedness [evil, wrongdoing] of Nabal down upon his own head [upon himself, as a consequence].” Then David sent word [a message, a communication] to Abigail, asking [requesting, seeking] for her in marriage [to be his wife, to join him in matrimony]. word study 40 When his servants [attendants, those who serve] came to Abigail [a wise and kind Israelite woman] at Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field], they said, “David [the youngest son of Jesse and a king of Israel] has sent [dispatched, commanded] us to take [to bring, to receive] you as his wife [to be his companion, to be united with him].” word study 41 She arose [stood up, got up], then bowed [prostrated herself, with her face to the earth] facedown [with her face to the ground] and said, “Here is your maidservant [female slave, servant-girl], ready to serve [be a servant, attend to needs] and to wash [cleanse, bathe] the feet [of the servants] of my lord’s [master, owner] servants [slaves, attendants].” word study 42 So Abigail [hastened, made haste] hurried and got on a donkey [an ass, a beast of burden], and attended by five of her maidens [young women, female servants], she followed [went after, pursued] David’s messengers [representatives] and became [was given to be, came to be] his wife [woman, partner]. word study 43 David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had also [previously, in addition] married Ahinoam [a woman of God’s sowing, from Jezreel] of Jezreel [a city in Issachar, a place of God’s nurturing growth]. So she [as a wife, a female partner] and Abigail [a woman of joy, a wise and beautiful companion] were both [together, as a pair] his wives [women, female partners, companions]. word study 44 But Saul [the king of Israel, Shaul] had given his daughter Michal [the daughter of a king], David’s wife [his lawful spouse], to Palti [Paltiel, the son of Laish] son of Laish [from the city of Laish], who was from Gallim [a place in Palestine, a city north of Jerusalem]. word study