1 Samuel 25:1
Lamented him — Those have hard hearts, that can bury their faithful ministers with dry eyes, and are not sensible of the loss of them who have prayed for them, and taught them the way of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Lamented him — Those have hard hearts, that can bury their faithful ministers with dry eyes, and are not sensible of the loss of them who have prayed for them, and taught them the way of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Carmel — In some part of this wilderness Israel wandered, when they came out of Egypt. The place would bring to mind God's care concerning them, which David might now improve for his own encouragement.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abigail — That is, the joy of his father: yet he could not promise himself much joy of her, when he married her to such an husband: it seems, in inquiring, (no unfrequent thing) more after his wealth, than after his wisdom. Caleb — This is added to aggravate his crime, that he was a degenerate branc... [ Continue Reading ]
Shear sheep — Which times were celebrated with feasting.... [ Continue Reading ]
Prosperity — By this expression David both congratulates Nabal's felicity, and tacitly minds him of the distress in which he and his men were.... [ Continue Reading ]
We hurt not — This considering the licentiousness of soldiers, and the necessities David and his men were exposed to, was no small favour, which Nabal was bound both in justice, and gratitude, and prudence to requite.... [ Continue Reading ]
A good day — That is, in a day of feasting and rejoicing; when men are most chearful and liberal; when thou mayst relieve us out of thy abundance without damage to thyself; when thou art receiving the mercies of God, and therefore obliged to pity and relieve distressed and indigent persons.... [ Continue Reading ]
Can not speak — But he flies into a passion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abigail took, &c. — This she did without his leave, because it was a case of apparent necessity, for the preservation of herself, and husband, and all the family from imminent ruin. And surely, that necessity which dispenseth with God's positive commands, might dispense with the husband's right, in... [ Continue Reading ]
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. But is this the voice of David? Can he speak so unadvisedly with his lips? Has he been so long in the school of affliction, and learned no more... [ Continue Reading ]
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 pretence of justification, of what was done, (but rather wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Nabal is his name — Nabal signifies a fool.... [ Continue Reading ]
As Nabal — Let them be as contemptible as Nabal is, and will be for this odious action; let them be as unable to do thee any hurt as he is; let them be forced to yield to thee, and implore thy pardon, as Nabal now doth by my mouth: let the vengeance thou didst design upon Nabal and his family fall u... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Unto the young men — As being unworthy of thine acceptance or use.... [ Continue Reading ]
The trespass — That is, which I have taken upon myself, and which, if it be punished, the punishment will reach to me. Sure house — Will give the kingdom to thee, and to thy house for ever, as he hath promised thee. And therefore let God's kindness to thee, make thee gentle and merciful to others; d... [ Continue Reading ]
A man — Saul though no way injured. Thy soul — To take away thy life. Bundle of life — Or, in the bundle: that is, in the society, or congregation of the living; out of which, men are taken, and cut off by death. The phrase is taken from the common usage of men, who bind those things in bundles, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
No grief — The mind and conscience will be free from all the torment which such an action would cause in thee. By which, she intimates, what a blemish this would be to his glory, what a disturbance to his peace, if he proceeded to execute his purpose: and withal implies, how comfortable it would be... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord — Who by his gracious providence so disposed matters, that thou shouldst come to me: He rightly begins at the fountain of his deliverance; and then proceeds to the instruments.... [ Continue Reading ]
From coming, &c. — Which I had sworn to do. 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Accepted — That is, shewed my acceptance of thy person, by my grant of thy request.... [ Continue Reading ]
A feast — As the manner was upon those solemn occasions. Sordid covetousness, and vain prodigality were met together in him. Told nothing — As he was then incapable of admonition, his reason and conscience being both asleep.... [ Continue Reading ]
His heart died — He fainted away through the fear and horror of so great a mischief though it was past. As one, who having in the night galloped over a narrow plank, laid upon a broken bridge, over a deep river; when in the morning he came to review it, was struck dead with the horror of the danger... [ Continue Reading ]
Smote — God either inflicted some other stroke upon him, or increased his grief and fear to such an height, as killed him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed, &c. — This was another instance of human infirmity in David. David sent — But this doubtless was not done immediately after Nabal's death, but some time after it; though such circumstances be commonly omitted in the sacred history; which gives only the heads, and most important passages of... [ Continue Reading ]