1 Samuel 25:1

CHAPTER XXV

The death of Samuel, 1.

The history of Nabal, and his churlishness towards David and

his men, 2-12.

David, determining to punish him, is appeased by Abigail,

Nabal's wife, 13-35.

Abigail returns, and tells Nabal of the danger that he has

escaped: who on hearing it is thunderstruck, and dies in ten

days, 36-38

David, hearing of this, sends and takes Abigail to wife, 39-42.

He marries also Ahinoam of Jezreel, Saul having given Michal,

David's wife, to Phalti, the son of Laish, 43, 44.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXV

Verse 1 Samuel 25:1. 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. For some account of his character, see the end of the chapter. 1 Samuel 25:44.

Buried him in his house] Probably this means, not his dwelling-house, but the house or tomb he had made for his sepulture; and thus the Syriac and Arabic seem to have understood it.

David - went down to the wilderness of Paran.] This was either on the confines of Judea, or in Arabia Petraea, 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.