David sweareth unto Saul.

Before CHRIST

fore the LORD reward thee good for about 1061. that thou hast done unto me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

all his passions and affections, except He had resolved to establish him for the future in security and glory. We can never receive a greater earnest that He will wonderfully help us, than when He gives us grace not to help ourselves by any ill means that are offered us. Lord Clarendon.

- wherefore the Lord reward thee good] Saul's feeling of David's generosity must indeed be strong, when he beseeches God to reward it. Indeed, Saul had no equivalent to give David for the kindness shewn him; and therefore he refers him to God for retribution. For if, after this, he could even save David's life he could only save the life of his best benefactor: whereas David both spared and saved the life of his mortal enemy. Dr. Delaney.

20. — I know well that thou shalt surely be king,] How wonderful it is, that Saul should so often have attempted to destroy David, with this knowledge of his high destination. He surely would not have done so, if he had always continued in his reasonable hours. But what will not a man do, when his passions destroy his reason, and when he is stimulated with the evil spirit of ambition, envy, rage, and malice? It was this which made the unhappy king regardless of God and man, and excited him to fight against heaven and earth. Dr.

Chandler.

21. Swear now therefore unto me] David, by sparing his enemy, now found himself possessed of the proudest pleasure which human vanity could wish to see his prince his petitioner, his enemy his suppliant, conscious and confessing his own guilt and David's superiority, and begging that mercy to his issue which he himself had just experienced and had not deserved. Who would not, like David, spare an enemy for the sake of so glorious a triumph? Dr. Delaney.

22. And David sware unto Saul.] David generously took the oath, and honourably and religiously performed it. The whole address of Saul to David on this occasion was the natural effect of the various thoughts and passions which then agitated his breast. The full conviction he had of David's innocence, the proof now given him of the greatness of his temper, some remains of generosity in his own breast, the consciousness of the falsehood of his own suspicions, and of his own injurious and ungrateful conduct, the recollection of David's being appointed to succeed him, the vanity of opposing the order of God, the tender concern he had for the fate of his family under David's reign; all these considerations, and the various passions arising from them,

Samuel dieth.

Before CHRIST

ness, he mindeth to destroy him. 14 Abigail understanding thereof, 18 taketh a present, about 1060. 23 and by her wisdom 32 pacifieth David. 36 Nabal hearing thereof dieth. 39 David taketh Abigail and Ahinoam to be his wives. 44 Michal is given to Phalti.

Chap. XXV. ver. 1. And Samuel died;] The Jews are of opinion, that Samuel died only four months before Saul: but, by the generality of Christian chronologers, he is supposed to have died about two years before the death of that prince, and in the ninety-eighth year of his age; twenty years of which had been spent in the government of Israel before Saul's inauguration, after which he lived eighteen. He was, while he lived, an excellent governour, and, through his whole administration, superiour to vanity, corruption, or any private views. Those who attend to his life may observe, that he was modest without meanness, mild without weakness, firm without obstinacy, and severe without harshness: a fine eulogy of him is given by the author of Ecclesiasticus, ch. xlvi. 13, &c. Besides the things recorded of him in this book, there are other matters related of him in the first book of Chronicles; as that he enriched the tabernacle with spoils taken from the enemies of Israel, chap. xxvi. 28; that he assisted in regulating the distribution of the Levites for the service of the temple, chap. ix. 22; and lastly, that he wrote the history of David in conjunction with the Prophets Nathan and Gad. But, as he died before David came to the throne, this can only be meant of the beginning of that history, which might be continued by the others. There is great probability that he composed the first twentyfour chapters of this first book of Samuel, containing historical facts in which he had so large a share. Stackhouse.

How singular was the character and piety of Samuel! devoted to God from the womb, and worthy to be so! Early dedicated to the Divinity, and hallowed by his influence! Descended from Prophets, himself a greater! The service of God made the early business of his life; nor was ever interrupted by any thing but the service of his country. Exalted to supreme power, without ambition; exerting it without oppression or avarice, and resigning it without reluctance, when his God commanded? Illustrious in the splendour of a throne, and yet more so in the shade of a cell; so far from envying his successor to the supreme power, that he pitied and prayed for him! It were hard to determine which was happiest, his life or his death. He lived to the noblest purposes, the glory of God, and the good of his country; he died full of years and honours, universally lamented.

David sendeth a message to Nabal.

Before CHRIST

Before

+ Heb. ask him in my name of peace.

+ Heb. shamed.

+ Heb. rested.

4¶ And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and + greet him in my

name:

6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

:

7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers now thy shepherds which were with us, we † hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and + ceased.

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that

Such was Samuel! such always were, and such always will be, in a good measure, all those, whose beginnings are laid in true religion, whose duty is their delight, and their God their glory! Dr. Delaney. 5.- and greet him in my name : e:] This message of David to Nabal affords a fine picture of ancient and true politeness. The message is directed "to him that liveth;" that is, that liveth in prosperity: in Scripture, living, and being happy, are frequently synonymous; and now, David's benevolent spirit suggested to him, that, being happy ourselves, we should endeavour to make others share in our happiness. The great beauty and propriety of that ancient Eastern salutation, "Peace be to thee,' is very emphatical, inasmuch as the best blessings of life, and all the social affections, attend upon peace: the modesty too of the message is very remarkable; for, though David had much real merit towards Nabal, yet he puts his request on having no demerit towards him; and at the same time referring him to his servants for fuller information. Harmer.

10.-there be many servants now a days &c.] This was one of the most atrocious reproaches that could be

master.

CHRIST

about 1060.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that Heb. I have killed for my shearers, and slaughter. give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14¶ But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he † railed on them.

+ Heb. flew upon

them."

shamed.

15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, Heb. neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his houshold: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of

cast upon a well-born and innocent man; implying those crimes, on account of which bad servants become fugitives from their masters. Dr. Chandler. Nabal's answer was agreeable to his character, rude and sullen; a strong image of ungoverned brutality, and very natural to that insolence, which wealth is too apt to dictate to undisciplined spirits. Dr. Delaney.

11. my bread, and my water,] Water is considered as an important part of the provision made for a repast in Eastern countries, and is sent as such to shearers and reapers in particular. The words of Nabal, in reply to David's messengers, are not in the least surprising. The following passage from Drummond's Travels affords proof of their propriety: "the men and women were then employed in reaping: other females were employed in carrying water to the reapers; so that none but infants were unemployed." Harmer. 13.-abode by the stuff.] Remained in the wilderness to guard their property. Dr. Wells. 17.—such a son of Belial,] Bp. Patrick. 18.-two bottles of wine,]

So wilful and obstinate.

It must be obvious to

parched corn, and an hundred || clusabout 1060. ters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

|| Or, lumps.

19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

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.

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be and let thine handmaid, + Heb. ears. I pray thee, speak in thine + audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

every reader, that two bottles of wine could not possibly supply the exigencies of David's army, if we understand such bottles as are now in use: but it is rather meant, two skins or leathern bags of wine, which were used in Eastern countries, being carried on asses and camels. It is manifest, that two such vessels as these might hold a quantity of wine proportioned to the rest of the present. Stackhouse.

22.-if I leave to him &c.] If I leave to him any male alive. Bp. Patrick. If I leave so much as a dog alive. Bp. Hall.

25.-as his name is, so is he;] She represents him as a man that offended rather out of folly than from malice, which might plead some excuse for his rudeness. Nabal in Hebrew signifies "a foolish man." Bp. Pa

trick.

27.—this blessing] This present or gift. The same phrase is at 1 Sam. xxx. 26; Kings v. 15.

and pacifieth him.

Before CHRIST

holden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself about 1060. with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to saving my lord, be as Nabal.

+ Heb.

thyself.

27 And now this || blessing which || Or, present. thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my + Heb. walk lord.

28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

at the feet of,

&c.

29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of t Heb. in the the middle of a sling.

midst of the bow of a

30 And it shall come to pass, sling. when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

staggering,

31 That this shall be no grief + Heb. no unto thee, nor offence of heart unto or, stumbling. my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

32 ¶ And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me

29. shall be bound in the bundle of life] That is, shall be preserved; for we are wont to bind up in bundles those things which we would not have lost or scattered about. "And the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out;" an expression which implies, that they shall be cast away out of sight, or destroyed. Bp. Patrick.

33.-blessed be thy advice, &c.] We must attribute David's design of destroying Nabal's family to his sudden transport of passion, exasperated perhaps by the instigations of his followers. Although in this we cannot commend him, yet certainly there is something extremely praiseworthy in his speedy reconciliation, on Abigail's first address and application. Stackhouse. The resolution against Nabal was the resolution of a mortal, not to say of a military man, too much injured and provoked, and urged by necessity and self-preservation. The change and the thanksgiving, upon being

Nabal hearing thereof dieth.

Before

CHRIST

this day from coming to shed blood, about 1060. and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy

person.

36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37 But it came to pass in the

diverted from evil, were the sentiments of a hero and a saint. Dr. Delaney.

34.

the Lord God-which hath kept me back from hurting thee,] David knew full well that he durst not trust his own heart; and, being jealous over himself with godly jealousy, ever made God his refuge. In this instance, when he had been kept back from sin, on an opportunity provoking him thereto, he blessed God for it, ver. 32: for he saw that it was God's doing, more than his own. Thus, without God's help and blessing, all human endeavours are vain: his help and blessing must therefore be especially sought for by prayer. Bp. Sanderson.

Who would not think that the ungrateful conduct of Nabal, heightened by reproachful language, would have warranted the sharpest revenge; such as began to broil and burn in the breast of this great warriour? But vengeance is so much the prerogative of the Almighty, so absolutely the peculiar of heaven, that no consideration whatever can warrant the best of men in indulging such a feeling. On this occasion, David, being prevented, by a happy and seasonable pacification, from acting a bloody tragedy on which he was entering, and so turning his eyes from the baseness of him, who had stirred up his revenge, to the goodness of that God who had prevented it, breaks forth into the triumphant praises and thanksgivings here expressed; which serve to teach us the important truth, that prevention of sin is one of the greatest mercies which God can vouchsafe to us in this world. Dr. South.

35.—and have accepted thy person.] I have accepted thy interposition for Nabal, and for thy sake will not execute my intended vengeance. Dr. Chandler.

David marrieth Abigail.

Before

morning, when the wine was gone CHRIST out of Nabal, and his wife had told about 1060. him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

41 And she arose, and bowed her

tendency of Providence over all human events. Dr. S. Clarke.

There are two reflections to be made on the history of Nabal. 1. The example of Nabal, who, by his greediness and churlishness, well nigh caused the ruin of his whole family, should teach us, that covetousness and ill nature may bring upon us great evils: we learn also from Nabal's death, that avarice, anger, and drunkenness, are generally attended with fatal consequences, and even sometimes occasion the death of those who run into these excesses. 2. From the conduct of David, who, in a transport of rage, vowed to destroy him and his whole family, we may learn how dangerous it is to suffer ourselves to be carried away by passion and resentment: that what is done in anger often occasions repentance and remorse of conscience, and that we ought to thank God when He keeps us from offending against his laws, and executing our evil intentions. Ostervald.

39.Blessed be the Lord,] David does not rejoice in the death of Nabal, who was a worthless wretch; but in the justice of God, who shewed in this instance that right will be done to men, provided they have patience, without their taking vengeance into their own hands. Bp. Patrick. In the whole of this affair with Nabal, it must be allowed, that David's passion, and his oath to destroy Nabal and his family, are by no means to be vindicated: although the provocation given him was of the highest nature, particularly to a military man, and aggravated by circumstances of outrage, yet the oath was rash, and the resolution cruel. Still, as the most generous minds are apt to be soonest irritated and most easily pacified, David was quickly soothed by Abigail's prudence; and then blessed the Lord God of Israel for sending her, blessed her advice, and blessed herself for keeping him from bloodshed: all this indicated an ingenuous disposition, and great moderation and humanity of temper. Dr. Chandler.