25:1 Now Samuel died Samuel dies just after Saul has come to terms with God’s judgment on him (announced by Samuel in 13:14) and David’s becoming king.

25:2 the shearing of his sheep Preparation for the upcoming festival.

in Carmel Refers to a Judahite town, not Mount Carmel (Josh 15:55; 1 Sam 15:12).

25:3 Nabal Means “fool.”

he was as his heart Most translations render the Hebrew phrase used here as “he was a Calebite,” but some translate “he was as his heart.” There is a difference between what is written in the Hebrew and how it has traditionally been read. “As his heart” is what is written, and “Calebite” is how it is traditionally read.

25:6 may it go well with you, with your house, and with all that is yours David commands his men to show Nabal respect in accord with social norms.

25:7 we did not mistreat them Indicates that they treated the shepherds well (see 1 Sam 25:15–16).

25:8 whatever you have on hand They ask for a gift of food so that they might also enjoy the feast.

for your servants Their use of deferential language shows respect; David hopes to gain Nabal’s favor by using such language.

25:10 Who is David? Nabal implies that David is insignificant. He also uses Saul’s adversarial nickname for David, “son of Jesse” (see 20:27 and note).

breaking away Nabal equates David with a runaway slave.

25:13 Each man strap on his sword David commands his men to prepare for battle.

25:16 a wall to us Metaphorically describes protection.

keeping the sheep In addition to being a good shepherd himself, David was a protector of shepherds. See 9:3 and note.

25:20 she met them She intercepted them as they were on their way to destroy Nabal’s estate.

25:21 evil against me in place of good Nabal’s actions reflect Saul’s (see 24:17). In response to David’s protection, Nabal demeaned David (see v. 10).

25:22 one male The Hebrew euphemism used here refers to someone who urinates against a wall. It is a term of contempt used in the Hebrew text of the ot to refer to the killing of complete annihilation of groups of men (e.g., 1 Kgs 16:11; 21:21; 2 Kgs 9:8).

25:23 on her face A sign of homage and respect. See 1 Sam 24:8 and note.

25:24 On me She assumes responsibility for her husband’s actions, perhaps assuming that David will not exact revenge on a woman.

25:25 I, your female servant, did not see Implies that she would have welcomed them and given them food.

25:26 restrained you from bloodguilt If David had carried out his revenge on Nabal, countless innocent people would have died, and David would have been guilty (had bloodguilt) before God (see Exod 23:7).

25:28 a lasting house May reveal her confidence in David’s future kingship.

25:29 the pocket of the sling Alludes to David’s victory over Goliath (see 1 Sam 17:49).

25:31 the shedding of blood without cause Such a flagrant transgression may have undermined his qualification for kingship. See v. 26 and note.

Yahweh does good Abigail anticipates that David will do the right thing and be rewarded, so she requests that he remember her.

remember your female servant Perhaps a proposal for marriage, if the previous clause refers to Nabal.

25:32 has sent you this day David sees Abigail’s interception as divine intervention that keeps him from incurring bloodguilt (see v. 33).

25:33 blessed be your discretion See v. 3, where Abigail is noted for her discretion. Here, David admits his fault in attempting to take vengeance on Nabal.

25:34 one male See v. 22 and note.

25:35 I have granted your request One can compare David’s response here with Saul’s response to Ahimelech (compare 22:16, 18–19).

25:36 she did not tell him a thing, nothing at all A prudent choice given Nabal’s intoxicated state.

25:37 his heart died The exact illness that befalls Nabal is unclear; it may have been a coma, stroke, or heart attack.

became like a stone Nabal does not die at this time (v. 38).

25:38 Yahweh struck Nabal David interprets this act as divine judgment for Nabal’s insult against God’s anointed.

25:41 wash the feet of Even after becoming David’s wife, she continues to display the same respect as when they first met.

25:43 Ahinoam from Jezreel This Ahinoam—the mother of David’s oldest son, Amnon (2 Sam 3:2)—is different from Saul’s wife in 1 Sam 14:50.

25:44 to Palti After threatening the princess (19:17), Saul gave Michal to another man. David apparently did not consent to the divorce (2 Sam 3:13–16).