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1 Samuel 25:1-44 open_in_new
Death of Samuel. The Incident of Nabal. David and Abigail
1. Paran] That part of the desert between Sinai and Palestine which bordered on Judah.
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1 Samuel 25:2 open_in_new
Possessions] rather, 'occupation,' 'business.' Carmel] see on 1 Samuel 15:12. Great] has frequently the meaning of 'rich': cp. 2 Samuel 19:32.
Shearing his sheep] A special occasion for festivity and entertainment: cp. 1 Samuel 25:36; 2 Samuel 13:23.
Of the house of Caleb] This district of the S. of Judah had been conquered and settled by Caleb. It is called 'the south of Caleb' in 1 Samuel 30:14.
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1 Samuel 25:6 open_in_new
To him that liveth in prosperity] Vulgate has 'to my brethren.'
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1 Samuel 25:8 open_in_new
A good day] This is the ordinary Heb. phrase for a festival.
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1 Samuel 25:11 open_in_new
My water] Water is precious in these dry lands: cp. Judges 1:15. But LXX reads 'my wine.'
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1 Samuel 25:16 open_in_new
A wall] The protection from Arab robbers deserved some recognition from those who lived near the desert. Precisely the same demand is made at present by Bedouin sheikhs living on the borders of civilisation.
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1 Samuel 25:25 open_in_new
Folly] i.e. wrong-headed and foolish obstinacy and churlishness. The Heb. is the feminine form of 'Nabal': cp. 2 Samuel 3:33.
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1 Samuel 25:27 open_in_new
Blessing] RV 'present': cp. 30:26mg; Genesis 33:11.
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1 Samuel 25:28 open_in_new
Fighteth the battles of the lord] David had rescued the inhabitants of Keilah from the Philistines (1 Samuel 23:5), and protected the dwellers in the S. of Judah from the desert nomads (1 Samuel 25:16).
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1 Samuel 25:29 open_in_new
A man] The reference is to Saul.
Bound] i.e. safely bound up, so that not one is lost. In the bundle of life] rather, 'in the bundle of the living,' i.e. in the number of those whose lives are guarded and protected by God. With] 'in the custody of.'
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1 Samuel 25:31 open_in_new
Causeless] Abigail ventures to hint that Nabal's answer was not a sufficient reason for the vengeance David proposed to take.
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1 Samuel 25:33 open_in_new
Thy advice] RV 'thy wisdom.'
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1 Samuel 25:39 open_in_new
Communed with Abigail] RV 'spake concerning.' It is the technical term for 'asking any one's hand in marriage': cp. Song of Solomon 8:8.
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1 Samuel 25:44 open_in_new
Saul considered that David, as an outlaw, had forfeited his wife. But David himself never acknowledged this, and claimed Michal as his wife as soon as he had the power (2 Samuel 3:14).