1 Samuel 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._ THE LORD HATH RETURNED THE WICKEDNESS OF NABAL UPON HIS OWN HEAD. If this was an expression of pleasure, and David's vindictive feelings were gratified by the intelligence of Nabal's death, it was an instance of human infirmity which we may lament; but perhaps he referred to the unmerited reproach (1 Samuel 25:10), and the contempt of God implied in it. DAVID SENT AND COMMUNED WITH ABIGAIL, TO TAKE HER TO ... WIFE. This unceremonious proceeding was quite in the style of Eastern monarchs, who no sooner take a fancy for a lady than they despatch a mess

32-39 David gives God thanks for sending him this happy check in a sinful way. Whoever meet us with counsel, direction, comfort, caution, or seasonable reproof, we must see God sending them. We ought to be very thankful for those happy providences which are the means of keeping us from sinning. Most people think it enough, if they take reproof patiently; but few will take it thankfully, and commend those who give it, and accept it as a favour. The nearer we are to committing sin, the greater is the mercy of a seasonable restraint. Sinners are often most secure when most in danger. He was very drunk. A sign he was Nabal, a fool, that could not use plenty without abusing it; who could not be pleasant with his friends without making a beast of himself. There is not a surer sign that a man has but little wisdom, nor a surer way to destroy the little he has, than drinking to excess. Next mor...

Verse 1 Samuel 25:39. _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....

EXPOSITION DEATH OF SAMUEL (1 Samuel 25:1). 1 SAMUEL 25:1 AND SAMUEL DIED. According to Josephus, Samuel had for eighteen years been contemporaneous with Saul's kingdom. If this calculation, which probably rests upon some Jewish tradition, be at all correct, we must include the years of Samuel's judgeship in the sum total of Saul's reign (see on 1 Samuel 13:1), as evidently his fall was now fast approaching. Samuel's life marked the beginning of the second age of Israelite history (Acts 3:24). Moses had given the people their law, but

AND WHEN DAVID HEARD THAT NABAL WAS DEAD,.... As he soon might, Maon and Carmel not being far from the wilderness where David was: HE SAID, BLESSED [BE] THE LORD, THAT HATH PLEADED THE CAUSE OF MY REPROACH FROM THE HAND OF NABAL; not that he rejoiced at the death of Nabal, simply considered, or from a private spirit of revenge; but because of the glory of divine justice, which he had shown to him in vindicating him from the reproach Nabal had cast upon him, and particularly was thankful for what follows; AND HATH KEPT HIS SERVANT FROM EVIL; from slaying Nabal with his own hand, and doing hurt to his family: 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...

CHAPTER 25 _ 1. The death of Samuel (1 Samuel 25:1)_ 2. Nabal and his refusal (1 Samuel 25:2) 3. Abigail's deed and her prayer (1 Samuel 25:14) 4. David's answer to Abigail (1 Samuel 25:32) 5. Nabal's death (1 Samuel 25:36) 6. Abigail becomes David's wife (1 Samuel 25:39) After the death of Samuel, briefly mentioned in the beginning of this chapter, David went still further south into the wil

1 SAMUEL 25:1 A. (TO RAMAH). DEATH AND BURIAL OF SAMUEL. (An editorial addition.) 1 SAMUEL 25:1. IN HIS HOUSE: in the grounds belonging to it. 1 SAMUEL 25:1 B - 1 SAMUEL 25:44. DAVID, NABAL AND ABIGAIL (J). From one of the oldest sources. The story is complete in itself, and has no obvious connexion with any of the other sections. 1 SAMUEL 25:1 B - 1 SAMUEL 25:13. David goes to the wilderness of Paran at the S. of the Araba

WICKEDNESS. Hebrew. _ra_. _a`._ App-44....

David's marriage with Abigail 39. _pleaded the cause_, &c. Exacted from Nabal a due penalty for the injury he did me. Cp. 1 Samuel 24:15. In those days godly men looked for visible judgments upon the wicked in this world, and rejoiced in them as a vindication of God's righteous government. _hath kept his servant from evil_, &c. The E. V. misses the striking contrast between David and Nabal. Render, HATH RESTRAINED HIS SERVANT FROM WICKEDNESS, BUT THE WICKEDNESS OF NABAL HATH JEHOVAH RETURNED UPON HIS OWN HEAD....

WHEN DAVID HEARD THAT NABAL WAS DEAD, HE SAID, &C.— David, hearing of the death of Nabal, adores the divine justice so remarkably displayed in the punishment of this wicked man; and is full of thankfulness, that his cause was thus remarkably pleaded, without any intervention of his own. How fine a lesson is this to mankind, to remit injuries; to refer themselves and their concerns to the providence of God; to quell the spirit of revenge in the haughty heart, and to recede from rash and wicked resolutions, even though backed by solemn oaths!...