1 Samuel 25:22 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Unto the enemies of David, i. e. Unto David himself. But because it might seem ominous and unnatural to curse himself, therefore by a figure called euphemismus, instead of David, he mentions David's enemies. See 1 Samuel 20:16. The words may be thus rendered: So and more also let God do for (the Hebrew lamed being very oft so used) the enemies of David, i.e. let God work for them, and give them as much prosperity and success as Nabal hath hitherto had. Or, let God utterly destroy their enemies; and especially myself, the chief of them, if I do not destroy this man. Any that pisseth against the wall, i.e. any of the males, for they only do so; and of them this phrase is manifestly understood, 1 Kings 14:10, 1 Kings 21:21 2 Kings 9:8; and men not wholly barbarous have generally spared women in such cases. Quest. Why then was Abigail so much concerned and afraid? Answ. Partly from humanity, and the horror of so general and dreadful a slaughter of her family and nearest relations; and partly because when the sword was once drawn, she knew not where it would rest, nor whether she should escape; for she knew nothing of this limitation of David's threatening till she came to him.

1 Samuel 25:22

22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.