I SAMUEL 25

 

I Samuel is an historical account, but it is also a literary work of art and carefully composed to draw attention to the main points. One simple example: the words “good” and “evil” each appear 7 times in today's story. It is sandwiched between two accounts of David being found in the position to kill Saul but letting him live because he was the Lord's anointed. There are some similarities in today's story with the two that bracket it in that Saul and Nabal both act like fools towards David while David spares their lives for theological reasons, as we shall see.

The Structure of I Samuel 25

Introduction (1)

A. David sends messengers to Nabal (2-8)

    B. Nabal refuses him (9-11)

        C. David vows to kill Nabal (12-13)

            D. Abigail learns of events and acts (14-20)

        C'. David vows to kill Nabal (21-22)

                E. Abigail's speech (23-31)

                    1. Let the guilt be on me (23-25)

                        2. Blessing and prophecy (26-31a)

                    1'. Remember me (31b)

        C''. David repents of his anger toward Nabal (32-35)

            D'. Abigail tells Nabal of events (36-37a)

        C''''. Nabal dies, but not by David's hand (37b)

A'. David sends messengers to Abigail (39-40)

    B'. Abigail accepts him (41-42)

Conclusion (43-44)

What can you learn about these three characters by their words and actions? When have you been a Nabel, David or Abigail?

Break up into three discussion groups: verses 2-11, 12-25, and 26-38, (I will summarize the story in verses 39-42).

Verse 2 It is interesting that Nabal's possessions are described before he is. His possessions are of more 

worth than his personality.

Verse 3 “Fool” in Biblical terms is not just a harmless simpleton, but someone who is vicious, selfish,

and gluttonous. Chances are that no one would have purposely named their son “fool.” The Hebrew 

word may have alternative meanings such as messenger, flame, or clever. Abigail, however, chooses 

the translation that best reflects his character.

Calebite may mean a descendant of Caleb or, depending on the vowels, keleb, or doglike.

Verse 5 Why did David send ten men? Either to intimidate Nabal or to give him a rough idea as to how 

much food to give.

Verse 6 This story is, in fact, that of a fool who is parted from his possessions. By trying to hang onto a 

few of his sheep, Nabal loses all of them, his wife and his life.

Nabal characterizes himself as a slave-owner while both Abigail and David call themselves slaves of 

others.

Verses 7-8 One commentator states that David was righteously indignant for not getting paid for work he had performed. Is that really true? Another commentator actually suggests that David has been running a sort of protection racket. In any case, there has certainly been no agreement in advance with Nabal. It may show that we are sometimes guilty of righteous anger mistakenly – I know that I have been on occasion. Read James 1:19-20 on the anger of man, and consider Jonah 4:9-10 – “Do you do right?”

Verse 10 Nabal, unlike Abigail, does not recognize who David is or will become.

Verse 11 Notice the number of times Nabal uses the possessive pronoun.

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Verse 22 This literally reads to destroy “all who piss against a wall,” as in King James Version (not a 

vulgar word in 1600's.) Appropriately, Nabal hears of the threat as the wine leaves him (i.e., as he is 

urinating). Those who piss on a wall may mean either males or dogs (another allusion to Nabal as a 

dog).

It goes on to literally read, “God do so to the enemies of David.” This is one of three times in Samuel 

that “enemies” is added as an euphemism to avoid invoking a direct or indirect curse on either David or 

God.

Verses 24-25 Notice how carefully Abigail talks and acts so as to dissociate herself from the actions of 

her husband without actually betraying him.

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Verse 26 Retribution is from the LORD only. See Romans 12:19.

An example of a double bind statement is used by Abigail. Note also how she persuades David to give 

up his warlike plans without appearing to bribe him or unduly flatter him.

Chapter 25 is actually the center of a large symmetrical section spanning from Chapter 21 to the end of 

Chapter 29. Now the story of Chapter 25 would seem to be strange one to stress in this overall section. 

However, look at how Chapter 25 itself is structured (shown above) and where its exact center of 

emphasis is. Kyle McCarter, Jr. notes that Abigail’s speech in 25:28-31 “transforms David’s future wife 

into a kind of prophetess, who foresees the dynastic promise to the house of David in phrases that 

explicitly anticipate the ... [later] oracle of Nathan...” Ancient rabbis therefore counted Abigail as one 

of  seven righteous women in the Bible who spoke directly through God's holy spirit.

Verse 29 should perhaps be translated “in the book of the living.”

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Verse 36 See Proverbs 30:21-23 on a fool gorging himself.

Verse 37 This contains a play on words since wineskin = nebel (written with the same consonants as 

Nabal. Nabal is equated with a bladder.

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Verse 42 Notice her lack of hesitation. She was leaving all the possessions she now owned to follow a 

mere tribal chieftain. She had faith in his destiny.

 

This is the first glimpse of the David who, in next week's lesson, will later (a) be susceptible to 

feminine charms and (b) kill Uriah for no good reason. And this weakness will result in the fatal blot 

on his kingship.