mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="iSam.xxvii" prev="iSam.xxv" progress="36.33%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="iSam.xxvi-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xxvi-p1">We have here some intermission of David's troubles
by Saul. Providence favoured him with a breathing time, and yet
this chapter gives us instances of the troubles of David. If one
vexation seems to be over, we must not be secure; a storm may arise
from some other point, as here to David. I. Tidings of the death of
Samuel could not but trouble him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.1" parsed="|1Sam|25|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:1">ver.
1</scripRef>. But, II. The abuse he received from Nabal is more
largely recorded in this chapter. 1. The character of Nabal,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.2-1Sam.25.3" parsed="|1Sam|25|2|25|3" passage="1Sa 25:2,3">ver. 2, 3</scripRef>. 2. The humble
request sent to him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.4-1Sam.25.9" parsed="|1Sam|25|4|25|9" passage="1Sa 25:4-9">ver.
4-9</scripRef>. 3. His churlish answer, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.10-1Sam.25.12" parsed="|1Sam|25|10|25|12" passage="1Sa 25:10-12">ver. 10-12</scripRef>. 4. David's angry resentment
of it, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.13 Bible:1Sam.25.21 Bible:1Sam.25.22" parsed="|1Sam|25|13|0|0;|1Sam|25|21|0|0;|1Sam|25|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:13,21,22">ver. 13, 21,
22</scripRef>. 5. Abigail's prudent care to prevent the mischief it
was likely to bring upon her family, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.14-1Sam.25.20" parsed="|1Sam|25|14|25|20" passage="1Sa 25:14-20">ver. 14-20</scripRef>. 6. Her address to David to
pacify him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.23-1Sam.25.31" parsed="|1Sam|25|23|25|31" passage="1Sa 25:23-31">ver. 23-31</scripRef>.
7. David's favourable reception of her, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.32-1Sam.25.35" parsed="|1Sam|25|32|25|35" passage="1Sa 25:32-35">ver. 32-35</scripRef>. 8. The death of Nabal,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.36-1Sam.25.38" parsed="|1Sam|25|36|25|38" passage="1Sa 25:36-38">ver. 36-38</scripRef>. 9.
Abigail's marriage to David, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.39-1Sam.25.44" parsed="|1Sam|25|39|25|44" passage="1Sa 25:39-44">ver.
39-44</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxvi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25" parsed="|1Sam|25|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxvi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.1" parsed="|1Sam|25|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:1" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.25.1">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvi-p1.13">The Death of Samuel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p1.14">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvi-p2">1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were
gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at
Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of
Paran.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p3">We have here a short account of Samuel's
death and burial. 1. Though he was a great man, and one that was
admirably well qualified for public service, yet he spent the
latter end of his days in retirement and obscurity, not because he
was superannuated (for he knew how to preside in a college of the
prophets, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.19.20" parsed="|1Sam|19|20|0|0" passage="1Sa 19:20"><i>ch.</i> xix.
20</scripRef>), but because Israel had rejected him, for which God
thus justly chastised them, and because his desire was to be quiet
and to enjoy himself and his God in the exercises of devotion now
in his advanced years, and in this desire God graciously indulged
him. Let old people be willing to rest themselves, though it look
like burying themselves alive. 2. Though he was a firm friend to
David, for which Saul hated him, as also for dealing plainly with
him, yet he died in peace even in the worst of the days of the
tyranny of Saul, who, he sometimes feared, would kill him,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.16.2" parsed="|1Sam|16|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 16:2"><i>ch.</i> xvi. 2</scripRef>. Though
Saul loved him not, yet he feared him, as Herod did John, and
feared the people, for all knew him to be a prophet. Thus is Saul
restrained from hurting him. 3. All Israel lamented him; and they
had reason, for they had all a loss in him. His personal merits
commanded this honour to be done him at his death. His former
services to the public, when he judged Israel, made this respect to
his name and memory a just debt; it would have been very ungrateful
to have withheld it. The sons of the prophets had lost the founder
and president of their college, and whatever weakened them was a
public loss. But that was not all: Samuel was a constant
intercessor for Israel, prayed daily for them, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.12.23" parsed="|1Sam|12|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 12:23"><i>ch.</i> xii. 23</scripRef>. If he go, they part with
the best friend they have. The loss is the more grievous at this
juncture when Saul has grown so outrageous and David is driven from
his country; never more need of Samuel than now, yet now he is
removed. We will hope that the Israelites lamented Samuel's death
the more bitterly because they remembered against themselves their
own sin and folly in rejecting him and desiring a king. Note, (1.)
Those have hard hearts who can bury their faithful ministers with
dry eyes, who are not sensible of the loss of those who have prayed
for them and taught them the way of the Lord. (2.) When God's
providence removes our relations and friends from us we ought to be
humbled for our misconduct towards them while they were with us. 4.
They buried him, not in the school of the prophets at Naioth, but
in his own house (or perhaps in the garden pertaining to it) at
Ramah, where he was born. 5. David, thereupon, went down to the
wilderness of Paran, retiring perhaps to mourn the more solemnly
for the death of Samuel. Or, rather, because now that he had lost
so good a friend, who was (and he hoped would be) a great support
to him, he apprehended his danger to be greater than ever, and
therefore withdrew to a wilderness, out of the limits of the land
of Israel; and now it was that he <i>dwelt in the tents of
Kedar,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.5" parsed="|Ps|120|5|0|0" passage="Ps 120:5">Ps. cxx. 5</scripRef>. In
some parts of this wilderness of Paran Israel wandered when they
came out of Egypt. The place would bring to mind God's care
concerning them, and David might improve that for his own
encouragement, now in his wilderness-state.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.2-1Sam.25.11" parsed="|1Sam|25|2|25|11" passage="1Sa 25:2-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.25.2-1Sam.25.11">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvi-p3.6">David Sends to Nabal. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p3.7">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvi-p4">2 And <i>there was</i> a man in Maon, whose
possessions <i>were</i> in Carmel; and the man <i>was</i> very
great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and
he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.   3 Now the name of the
man <i>was</i> Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and <i>she
was</i> a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful
countenance: but the man <i>was</i> churlish and evil in his
doings; and he <i>was</i> of the house of Caleb.   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 <i>in
prosperity,</i> Peace <i>be</i> both to thee, and peace <i>be</i>
to thine house, and peace <i>be</i> 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 <i>is</i> David? and who <i>is</i> the son of Jesse? there be
many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
  11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh
that I have killed for my shearers, and give <i>it</i> unto men,
whom I know not whence they <i>be?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p5">Here begins the story of Nabal.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p6">I. A short account of him, who and what he
was (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.2-1Sam.25.3" parsed="|1Sam|25|2|25|3" passage="1Sa 25:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2, 3</scripRef>), a
man we should never have heard of if there had not happened some
communication between him and David. Observe, 1. His name:
<i>Nabal—a fool;</i> so it signifies. It was a wonder that his
parents would give him that name and an ill omen of what proved to
be this character. Yet indeed we all of us deserve to be so called
when we come into the world, for <i>man is born like the wild ass's
colt</i> and <i>foolishness is bound up in our hearts.</i> 2. His
family: He was of the house of Caleb, but was indeed of another
spirit. He inherited Caleb's estate; for Maon and Carmel lay near
Hebron, which was given to Caleb (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.54-Josh.15.55" parsed="|Josh|15|54|15|55" passage="Jos 15:54,55">Josh. xv. 54, 55</scripRef>; <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.14.14" parsed="|Josh|14|14|0|0" passage="xiv. 14">xiv. 14</scripRef>), but he
was far from inheriting his virtues. He was a disgrace to his
family, and then it was no honour to him. <i>Degeneranti genus
opprobrium—A Good extraction is a reproach to him who degenerates
from it.</i> The LXX., and some other ancient versions, read it
appellatively, not, He was a Calebite, but He was a dogged man, of
a currish disposition, surly and snappish, and always snarling. He
was <b><i>anthropos kynikos</i></b>—<i>a man that was a cynic.</i>
3. His wealth: He was very great, that is, very rich (for riches
make men look great in the eye of the world), otherwise, to one
that takes his measures aright, he really looked very mean. Riches
are common blessings, which God often gives to Nabals, to whom he
gives neither wisdom nor grace. 4. His wife—Abigail, a woman of
great understanding. Her name signifies, <i>the joy of her
father;</i> yet he could not promise himself much joy of her when
he married her to such a husband, enquiring more after his wealth
than after his wisdom. Many a child is thrown away upon a great
heap of the dirt of worldly wealth, married to that, and to nothing
else that is desirable. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, but an
inheritance is good for little without wisdom. Many an Abigail is
tied to a Nabal; and if it be so, be her understanding, like
Abigail's, ever so great, it will be little enough for her
exercises. 5. His character. He had no sense either of honour or
honesty; not of honour, for he was churlish, cross, and
ill-humoured; not of honesty, for he was evil in his doings, hard
and oppressive, and a man that cared not what fraud and violence he
used in getting and saving, so he could but get and save. This is
the character given of Nabal by him who knows what every man
is.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p7">II. David's humble request to him, that he
would send him some victuals for himself and his men.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p8">1. David, it seems, was in such distress
that he would be glad to be beholden to him, and did in effect come
a begging to his door. What little reason have we to value the
wealth of this world when so great a churl as Nabal abounds and so
great a saint as David suffers want! Once before we had David
begging his bread, but then it was of Ahimelech the high priest, to
whom one would not grudge to stoop. But to send a begging to Nabal
was what such a spirit as David had could not admit without some
reluctancy; yet, if Providence bring him to these straits, he will
not say that to beg he is ashamed. Yet see <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.25" parsed="|Ps|37|25|0|0" passage="Ps 37:25">Ps. xxxvii. 25</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p9">2. He chose a good time to send to Nabal,
when he had many hands employed about him in shearing his sheep,
for whom he was to make a plentiful entertainment, so that good
cheer was stirring. Had he sent at another time, Nabal would have
pretended he had nothing to spare, but now he could not have that
excuse. It was usual to make feasts at their sheep-shearings, as
appears by Absalom's feast on that occasion (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.13.24" parsed="|2Sam|13|24|0|0" passage="2Sa 13:24">2 Sam. xiii. 24</scripRef>), for wool was one of the
staple commodities of Canaan.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p10">3. David ordered his men to deliver their
message to him with a great deal of courtesy and respect: "<i>Go to
Nabal, and greet him in my name.</i> Tell him I sent you to present
my service to him, and to enquire how he does and his family,"
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.5" parsed="|1Sam|25|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. He puts words
in their mouths (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.6" parsed="|1Sam|25|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>): <i>Thus shall you say to him that liveth;</i> our
translators add, <i>in prosperity,</i> as if those live indeed that
live as Nabal did, with abundance of the wealth of this world about
them; whereas, in truth, those that<i>live in pleasure are dead
while they live,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.5.6" parsed="|1Tim|5|6|0|0" passage="1Ti 5:6">1 Tim. v.
6</scripRef>. This was, methinks too high a compliment to pass upon
Nabal, to call him <i>the man that liveth.</i> David knew better
things, that in God's favour is life, not in the world's smiles;
and by the rough answer he was well enough served, for this too
smooth address to such a muck-worm. Yet his good wishes were very
commendable. "<i>Peace be to thee,</i> all good both to soul and
body. <i>Peace be to thy house and to all that thou hast.</i>" Tell
him I am a hearty well-wisher to his health and prosperity. He bids
them call him his <i>son David</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.8" parsed="|1Sam|25|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), intimating that, for his age
and estate, David honoured him as a father, and therefore hoped to
receive some fatherly kindness from him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p11">4. He pleaded the kindness which Nabal's
shepherds had received from David and his men; and one good turn
requires another. He appeals to Nabal's own servants, and shows
that when David's soldiers were quartered among Nabal's shepherds,
(1.) They did not hurt them themselves, did them no injury, gave
them no disturbance, were not a terror to them, nor took any of the
lambs out of the flock. Yet, considering the character of David's
men, men in distress, and debt, and discontented, and the scarcity
of provisions in his camp, it was not without a great deal of care
and good management that they were kept from plundering. (2.) They
protected them from being hurt by others. David himself does but
<i>intimate</i> this, for he would not boast of his good offices:
<i>Neither was there aught missing to them,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.7" parsed="|1Sam|25|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. But Nabal's servants, to whom he
appealed, went further (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.16" parsed="|1Sam|25|16|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>): <i>They were a wall unto us, both by night and
day.</i> David's soldiers were a guard to Nabal's shepherds when
the bands of the <i>Philistines robbed the threshing-floors</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.1" parsed="|1Sam|23|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:1"><i>ch.</i> xxiii. 1</scripRef>) and
would have robbed the sheep-folds. From those plunderers Nabal's
flocks were protected by David's care, and therefore he says,
<i>Let us find favour in thy eyes.</i> Those that have shown
kindness may justly expect to receive kindness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p12">5. He was very modest in his request.
Though David was anointed king, he insisted not upon royal
dainties, but, "Give whatsoever comes to thy hand, and we will be
thankful for it." Beggars must not be choosers. Those that deserved
to have been served first will now be glad of what is left. They
plead, <i>We come in a good day,</i> a festival, when not only the
provision is more plentiful, but the heart and hand are usually
more open and free than at other times, when much may be spared and
yet not be missed. David demands not what he wanted as a debt,
either by way of tribute as he was a king, or by way of
contribution as he was a general, but asks it as a boon to a
friend, that was his humble servant. David's servants delivered
their message faithfully and very handsomely, not doubting but to
go back well laden with provisions.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p13">III. Nabal's churlish answer to this modest
petition, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.10-1Sam.25.11" parsed="|1Sam|25|10|25|11" passage="1Sa 25:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10,
11</scripRef>. One could not have imagined it possible that any man
should be so very rude and ill-conditioned as Nabal was. David
called himself his <i>son,</i> and asked bread and a fish, but,
instead thereof, Nabal gave him a stone and a scorpion; not only
denied him, but abused him. If he had not thought fit to send him
any supplies for fear of Ahimelech's fate, who paid dearly for his
kindness to David; yet he might have given a civil answer, and made
the denial as modest as the request was. But, instead of that, he
falls into a passion, as covetous men are apt to do when they are
asked for any thing, thinking thus to cover one sin with another,
and by abusing the poor to excuse themselves from relieving them.
But God will not thus be mocked. 1. He speaks scornfully of David
as an insignificant man, not worth taking notice of. The
Philistines could say of him, <i>This is</i> David <i>the king of
the land,</i> that <i>slew his ten thousands</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.11" parsed="|1Sam|21|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:11"><i>ch.</i> xxi. 11</scripRef>), yet Nabal his
near neighbour, and one of the same tribe, affects not to know him,
or not to know him to be a man of any merit or distinction: <i>Who
is David? And who is the son of Jesse?</i> He could not be ignorant
how much the country was obliged to David for his public services,
but his narrow soul thinks not of paying any part of that debt, nor
so much as of acknowledging it; he speaks of David as an
inconsiderable man, obscure, and not to be regarded. Think it not
strange if great men and great merits be thus disgraced. 2. He
upbraids him with his present distress, and takes occasion from it
to represent him as a bad man, that was fitter to be set in the
stocks for a vagrant than to have any kindness shown him. How
naturally does he speak the churlish clownish language of those
that hate to give alms! <i>There are many servants now-a-days</i>
(as if there had been none such in former days) <i>that break every
man from his master,</i> suggesting that David was one of them
himself ("He might have kept his place with his master Saul, and
then he needed not have sent to me for provisions"), and also that
he entertained and harboured those that were fugitives like
himself. It would make one's blood rise to hear so great and good a
man as David thus vilified and reproached by such a base churl as
Nabal. <i>But the vile person will speak villany,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.32.5-Isa.32.7" parsed="|Isa|32|5|32|7" passage="Isa 32:5-7">Isa. xxxii. 5-7</scripRef>. If men bring
themselves into straits by their own folly, yet they are to be
pitied and helped, and not trampled upon and starved. But David
was reduced to this distress, not by any fault, no, nor any
indiscretion, of his own, but purely by the good services he had
done to his country and the honours which his God had put upon him;
and yet he was represented as a fugitive and runagate. Let this
help us to bear such reproaches and misrepresentations of us with
patience and cheerfulness, and make us easy under them, that it has
often been the lot of the excellent ones of the earth. Some of the
best men that ever the world was blest with were counted as the
<i>off-scouring of all things,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.4.13" parsed="|1Cor|4|13|0|0" passage="1Co 4:13">1
Cor. iv. 13</scripRef>. 3. He insists much upon the property he had
in the provisions of his table, and will by no means admit any body
to share in them. "It is my bread and my flesh, yes, and my water
too (though <i>usus communis aquarum</i>—<i>water is every one's
property</i>), and it is prepared for my shearers," priding himself
in it that it was all his own; and who denied it? Who offered to
dispute his title? But this, he thinks, will justify him in keeping
it all to himself, and giving David none; for may he not do what
he will with his own? Whereas we mistake if we think we are
absolute lords of what we have and may do what we please with it.
No, we are but stewards, and must use it as we are directed,
remembering it is not our own, but his that entrusted us with it.
Riches are <b><i>ta allotria</i></b> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.16.12" parsed="|Luke|16|12|0|0" passage="Lu 16:12">Luke xvi. 12</scripRef>); they are <i>another's,</i> and
we ought not to talk too much of their being our own.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvi-p0.4_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.12-1Sam.25.17" parsed="|1Sam|25|12|25|17" passage="1Sa 25:12-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.25.12-1Sam.25.17">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvi-p13.7">Abigail Wise Resolution. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p13.8">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvi-p14">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.  
15 But the men <i>were</i> very good unto us, and we were not hurt,
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
household: for he <i>is such</i> a son of Belial, that <i>a man</i>
cannot speak to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p15">Here is, I. The report made to David of the
abuse Nabal had given to his messengers (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.12" parsed="|1Sam|25|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>They turned their way.</i>
They showed their displeasure, as became them to do, by breaking
off abruptly from such a churl, but prudently governed themselves
so well as not to render railing for railing, not to call him as he
deserved, much less to take by force what ought of right to have
been given them, but came and told David that he might do as he
thought fit. Christ's servants, when they are thus abused, must
leave it to him to plead his own cause and wait till he appear in
it. The servant showed his lord what affronts he had received, but
did not return them, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.14.21" parsed="|Luke|14|21|0|0" passage="Lu 14:21">Luke xiv.
21</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p16">II. David's hasty resolution hereupon. He
girded on his sword, and ordered his men to do so too, to the
number of 400, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.13" parsed="|1Sam|25|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. And what he said we are told, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.21-1Sam.25.22" parsed="|1Sam|25|21|25|22" passage="1Sa 25:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21, 22</scripRef>. 1. He repented of the
kindness he had done to Nabal, and looked upon it as thrown away
upon him. He said, "<i>surely in vain have I kept all that this
fellow hath in the wilderness.</i> I thought to oblige him and make
him my friend, but I see it is to no purpose. He has no sense of
gratitude, nor is he capable of receiving the impressions of a good
turn, else he could not have used me thus. He hath <i>requited me
evil for good.</i>" But, when we are thus requited, we should not
repent of the good we have done, nor be backward to do good another
time. God is kind to the evil and unthankful, and why may not we?
2. He determined to destroy Nabal and all that belonged to him,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.22" parsed="|1Sam|25|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. Here David
did not act like himself. His resolution was bloody, to cut off all
the males of Nabal's house, and spare none, man nor man-child. The
ratification of his resolution was passionate: <i>So, and more also
do to God</i> (he was going to say <i>to me,</i> but that would
better become Saul's mouth, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.14.44" parsed="|1Sam|14|44|0|0" passage="1Sa 14:44"><i>ch.</i> xiv. 44</scripRef>, than David's, and
therefore he decently turns it off) <i>to the enemies of David. Is
this thy voice, O David?</i> Can the man after God's own heart
speak thus unadvisedly with his lips? Has he been so long in the
school of affliction, where he should have learned patience, and
yet so passionate? Is this he who used to be dumb and deaf when he
was reproached (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.38.13" parsed="|Ps|38|13|0|0" passage="Ps 38:13">Ps. xxxviii.
13</scripRef>), who but the other day spared him who sought his
life, and yet now will not spare any thing that belongs to him who
has only put an affront upon his messengers? He who at other times
used to be calm and considerate is now put into such a heat by a
few hard words that nothing will atone for them but the blood of a
whole family. Lord, what is man! What are the best of men, when God
leaves them to themselves, to try them, that they may know what is
in their hearts? From Saul David expected injuries, and against
those he was prepared and stood upon his guard, and so kept his
temper; but from Nabal he expected kindness, and therefore the
affront he gave him was a surprise to him, found him off his guard,
and, by a sudden and unexpected attack, put him for the present
into disorder. What need have we to pray, <i>Lord, lead us not into
temptation!</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p17">III. The account given of this matter to
Abigail by one of the servants, who was more considerate than the
rest, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.14" parsed="|1Sam|25|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Had
this servant spoken to Nabal, and shown him the danger he had
exposed himself to by his own rudeness, he would have said,
"Servants are now-a-days so saucy, and so apt to prescribe, that
there is no enduring them," and, it may be, would have turned him
out of doors. But Abigail, being a woman of good understanding,
took cognizance of the matter, even from her servant, who, 1. Did
David justice in commending him and his men for their civility to
Nabal's shepherds, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.15-1Sam.25.16" parsed="|1Sam|25|15|25|16" passage="1Sa 25:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15,
16</scripRef>. "The men were very good to us, and, though they were
themselves exposed, yet they protected us and were a wall unto us."
Those who do that which is good shall, one way or other, have the
praise of the same. Nabal's own servant will be a witness for David
that he is a man of honour and conscience, whatever Nabal himself
says of him. And, 2. He did Nabal no wrong in condemning him for
his rudeness to David's messengers: <i>He railed on them</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.14" parsed="|1Sam|25|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), <i>he flew
upon them</i> (so the word is) with an intolerable rage; "for," say
they, "it is his usual practice, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.17" parsed="|1Sam|25|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. He is such a son of Belial, so
very morose and intractable, that a man cannot speak to him but he
flies into a passion immediately." Abigail knew it too well
herself. 3. He did Abigail and the whole family a kindness in
making her sensible what was likely to be the consequence. He knew
David so well that he had reason to think he would highly resent
the affront, and perhaps had had information of David's orders to
his men to march that way; for he is very positive <i>evil is
determined against our master, and all his household,</i> himself
among the rest, would be involved in it. Therefore he desires his
mistress to consider what was to be done for their common safety.
They could not resist the force David would bring down upon them,
nor had they time to send to Saul to protect them; something
therefore must be done to pacify David.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvi-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.18-1Sam.25.31" parsed="|1Sam|25|18|25|31" passage="1Sa 25:18-31" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.25.18-1Sam.25.31">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvi-p17.6">Abigail Meets David. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p17.7">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvi-p18">18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred
loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and
five measures of parched <i>corn,</i> and a hundred clusters of
raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid <i>them</i> on
asses.   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 <i>so, as</i> 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 <i>fellow</i> hath
in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that
<i>pertained</i> 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 <i>pertain</i> 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, <i>upon</i> me <i>let
this</i> iniquity <i>be:</i> and let thine handmaid, I pray thee,
speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
  25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial,
<i>even</i> Nabal: for as his name <i>is,</i> so <i>is</i> he;
Nabal <i>is</i> his name, and folly <i>is</i> with him: but I thine
handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
  26 Now therefore, my lord, <i>as</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p18.1">Lord</span> liveth, and <i>as</i> thy soul liveth,
seeing the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p18.2">Lord</span> hath withholden thee
from coming to <i>shed</i> blood, and from avenging thyself with
thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to
my lord, be as Nabal.   27 And now this blessing which thine
handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the
young men that follow my lord.   28 I pray thee, forgive the
trespass of thine handmaid: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p18.3">Lord</span> will certainly make my lord a sure house;
because my lord fighteth the battles of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p18.4">Lord</span>, and evil hath not been found in thee
<i>all</i> thy days.   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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p18.5">Lord</span> thy
God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, <i>as
out</i> of the middle of a sling.   30 And it shall come to
pass, when the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p18.6">Lord</span> 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;   31
That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my
lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord
hath avenged himself: but when the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p18.7">Lord</span> shall have dealt well with my lord, then
remember thine handmaid.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p19">We have here an account of Abigail's
prudent management for the preserving of her husband and family
from the destruction that was just coming upon them; and we find
that she did her part admirably well and fully answered her
character. The passion of fools often makes those breaches in a
little time which the wise, with all their wisdom, have much ado to
make up again. It is hard to say whether Abigail was more miserable
in such a husband or Nabal happy in such a wife. A <i>virtuous
woman is a crown to her husband,</i> to protect as well as adorn,
and will <i>do him good and not evil.</i> Wisdom in such a case as
this was better than weapons of war. 1. It was her wisdom that what
she did she did quickly, and without delay; she made haste,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.18" parsed="|1Sam|25|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. It was no
time to trifle or linger when all was in danger. Those that desire
conditions of peace must send when the enemy is yet a great way
off, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.14.32" parsed="|Luke|14|32|0|0" passage="Lu 14:32">Luke xiv. 32</scripRef>. 2. It
was her wisdom that what she did she did herself, because, being a
woman of great prudence and very happy address, she knew better how
to manage it than any servant she had. The virtuous woman will
herself <i>look well to the ways of her household,</i> and not
devolve this duty wholly upon others.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p20">Abigail must endeavour to atone for Nabal's
faults. Now he had been in two ways rude to David's messengers, and
in them to David: He had denied them the provisions they asked for,
and he had given them very provoking language. Now,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p21">I. By a most generous present, Abigail
atones for his denial of their request. If Nabal had given them
what came next to hand, they would have gone away thankful; but
Abigail prepares the very best the house afforded and abundance of
it (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.18" parsed="|1Sam|25|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>),
according to the usual entertainments of those times, not only
<i>bread</i> and <i>flesh,</i> but <i>raisins</i> and <i>figs,</i>
which were their dried sweet-meats. Nabal grudged them
<i>water,</i> but she took <i>two bottles</i> (<i>casks</i> or
<i>rundlets</i>) <i>of wine,</i> loaded her asses with these
provisions, and sent them before; for <i>a gift pacifieth
anger,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.21.14" parsed="|Prov|21|14|0|0" passage="Pr 21:14">Prov. xxi. 14</scripRef>.
Jacob thus pacified Esau. When the <i>instruments of the churl are
evil, the liberal devises liberal things,</i> and loses nothing by
it; for by <i>liberal things shall he stand,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.32.7-Isa.32.8" parsed="|Isa|32|7|32|8" passage="Isa 32:7,8">Isa. xxxii. 7, 8</scripRef>. Abigail not only
lawfully, but laudably, disposed of all these goods of her
husband's without his knowledge (even when she had reason to think
that if he had known what she did he would not have consented to
it), because it was not to gratify her own pride or vanity, but for
the necessary defence of him and his family. which otherwise would
have been inevitably ruined. Husbands and wives, for their common
good and benefit, have a joint-interest in their worldly
possessions; but if either waste, or unduly spend in any way, it is
a robbing of the other.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p22">II. By a most obliging demeanour, and
charming speech, she atones for the abusive language which Nabal
had given them. She met David upon the march, big with resentment,
and meditating the destruction of Nabal (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.20" parsed="|1Sam|25|20|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>); but with all possible
expressions of complaisance and respect she humbly begs his favour,
and solicits him to pass by the offence. Her demeanour was very
submissive: <i>She bowed herself to the ground before David</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.23" parsed="|1Sam|25|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>) <i>and fell
at his feet,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.24" parsed="|1Sam|25|24|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. Yielding pacifies great offences. She put herself
into the place and posture of a penitent and of a petitioner, and
was not ashamed to do it, when it was for the good of her house, in
the sight both of her own servants and of David's soldiers. She
humbly begs of David that he will give her the hearing: <i>Let thy
handmaid speak in thy audience.</i> But she needed not thus to
bespeak his attention and patience; what she said was sufficient to
command it, for certainly nothing could be more fine nor more
moving. No topic of argument is left untouched; every thing is well
placed and well expressed, most pertinently and pathetically urged,
and improved to the best advantage, with such a force of natural
rhetoric as cannot easily be paralleled.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p23">1. She speaks to him all along with the
deference and respect due to so great and good a man, calls him
<i>My lord,</i> over and over, to expiate her husband's crime in
saying, "Who is David?" She does not upbraid him with the heat of
his passion, though he deserved to be reproved for it; nor does she
tell him how ill it became his character; but endeavours to soften
him and bring him to a better temper, not doubting but that then
his own conscience would upbraid him with it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p24">2. She takes the blame of the ill-treatment
of his messengers upon herself: "<i>Upon me, my lord, upon me, let
this iniquity be,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.24" parsed="|1Sam|25|24|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. If thou wilt be angry, be angry with me, rather than
with my poor husband, and look upon it <i>as the trespass of thy
handmaid,</i>" <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.28" parsed="|1Sam|25|28|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>. Sordid spirits care not how much others suffer for
their faults, while generous spirits can be content to suffer for
the faults of others. Abigail here discovered the sincerity and
strength of her conjugal affection and concern for her family:
whatever Nabal was, he was her husband.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p25">3. She excuses her husband's fault by
imputing it to his natural weakness and want of understanding
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.25" parsed="|1Sam|25|25|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>): "<i>Let
not my lord</i> take notice of his rudeness and ill manners, for it
is like him; it is not the first time that he has behaved so
churlishly; he must be borne with, for it is for want of wit:
<i>Nabal is his name</i>" (which signifies a <i>fool</i>), "<i>and
folly is with him.</i> It was owing to his folly, not his malice.
He is simple, but not spiteful. Forgive him, for he knows not what
he does." What she said was too true, and she said it to excuse his
fault and prevent his ruin, else she would not have done well to
give such a bad character as this of her own husband, whom she
ought to make the best of, and not to speak ill of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p26">4. She pleads her own ignorance of the
matter: "<i>I saw not the young men,</i> else they should have had
a better answer, and should not have gone without their errand,"
intimating hereby that though her husband was foolish, and unfit to
manage his affairs himself, yet he had so much wisdom as to be
ruled by her and take her advice.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p27">5. She takes it for granted that she has
gained her point already, perhaps perceiving, by David's
countenance, that he began to change his mind (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.26" parsed="|1Sam|25|26|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>): <i>Seeing the Lord hath
withholden thee.</i> She depends not upon her own reasonings, but
God's grace, to mollify him, and doubts not but that grace would
work powerfully upon him; and then, "<i>Let all thy enemies be as
Nabal,</i> that is, if thou forbear to avenge thyself, no doubt God
will avenge thee on him, as he will on all thy other enemies." Or
it intimates that it was below him to take vengeance on so weak and
impotent an enemy as Nabal was, who, as he would do him no
kindness, so he could do him no hurt, for he needed to wish no more
concerning his enemies than that they might be as unable to resist
him as Nabal was. Perhaps she refers to his sparing Saul, when, but
the other day, he had him at his mercy. "Didst thou forbear to
avenge thyself on that lion that would devour thee, and wilt thou
shed the blood of this dog that can but bark at thee?" The very
mentioning of what he was about to do, to shed blood and to avenge
himself, was enough to work upon such a tender gracious spirit as
David had; and it should seem, by his reply (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.33" parsed="|1Sam|25|33|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>), that it affected him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p28">6. She makes a tender of the present she
had brought, but speaks of it as unworthy of David's acceptance,
and therefore desires it may be given to the <i>young men that
followed him</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.27" parsed="|1Sam|25|27|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>), and particularly to those ten that were his
messengers to Nabal, and whom he had treated so rudely.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p29">7. She applauds David for the good services
he had done against the common enemies of his country, the glory of
which great achievements, she hoped, he would not stain by any
personal revenge: "<i>My lord fighteth the battles of the Lord</i>
against the Philistines, and therefore he will leave it to God to
fight his battles against those that affront him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.28" parsed="|1Sam|25|28|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. <i>Evil has not been
found in thee all thy days.</i> Thou never yet didst wrong to any
of thy countrymen (though persecuted as a traitor), and therefore
thou wilt not begin now, nor do a thing which Saul will improve for
the justifying of his malice against thee."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p30">8. She foretels the glorious issue of his
present troubles. "It is true <i>a man pursues thee</i> and
<i>seeks thy life</i>" (she names not Saul, out of respect to his
present character as king), "but thou needest not look with so
sharp and jealous an eye upon every one that affronts thee;" for
all these storms that now ruffle thee will be blown over shortly.
She speaks it with assurance, (1.) That God would keep him safe:
<i>The soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with
the Lord thy God,</i> that is, God shall <i>hold thy soul in
life</i> (as the expression is, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.66.9" parsed="|Ps|66|9|0|0" passage="Ps 66:9">Ps.
lxvi. 9</scripRef>) as we hold those things which are bundled up or
which are precious to us, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p30.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.116.15" parsed="|Ps|116|15|0|0" passage="Ps 116:15">Ps. cxvi.
15</scripRef>. <i>Thy soul shall be treasured up in the treasure of
lives</i> (so the Chaldee), under lock and key as our treasure is.
"Thou shalt abide under the special protection of the divine
providence." The <i>bundle of life is with the Lord our God,</i>
for in his hand our breath is, and our times. Those are safe, and
may be easy, that have him for their protector. The Jews understand
this not only of the <i>life that now is,</i> but of that <i>which
is to come,</i> even the happiness of separate souls, and therefore
use it commonly as an inscription on their gravestones. "Here we
have laid the body, but trust that <i>the soul is bound up in the
bundle of life, with the Lord our God.</i>" There it is safe, while
the dust of the body is scattered. (2.) That God would make him
victorious over his enemies. Their souls he shall <i>sling out,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p30.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.29" parsed="|1Sam|25|29|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. The stone is
bound up in the sling, but it is in order to be thrown out again;
so the souls of the godly shall be bundled as corn for the barn,
but the souls of the wicked as tares for the fire. (3.) That God
would settle him in wealth and power: "<i>The Lord will certainly
make my lord a sure house,</i> and no enemy thou hast can hinder
it; therefore <i>forgive this trespass,</i>" that is, "show mercy,
as thou hopest to find mercy. God will make thee great, and it is
the glory of great men to pass by offences."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p31">9. She desires him to consider how much
more comfortable it would be to him in the reflection to have
forgiven this affront than to have revenged it, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p31.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.30-1Sam.25.31" parsed="|1Sam|25|30|25|31" passage="1Sa 25:30,31"><i>v.</i> 30, 31</scripRef>. She reserves this
argument for the last, as a very powerful one with so good a man,
that the less he indulged his passion the more he consulted his
peace and the repose of his own conscience, which every wise man
will be tender of. (1.) She cannot but think that if he should
avenge himself it would afterwards be a grief and an offence of
heart to him, Many have done that in a heat which they have a
thousand times wished undone again. The sweetness of revenge is
soon turned into bitterness. (2.) She is confident that if he pass
by the offence it will afterwards by no grief to him; but, on the
contrary, it would yield him unspeakable satisfaction that his
wisdom and grace had got the better of his passion. Note, When we
are tempted to sin we should consider how it will appear in the
reflection. Let us never do any thing for which our own consciences
will afterwards have occasion to upbraid us, and which we shall
look back upon with regret: <i>My heart shall not reproach
me.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p32">10. She recommends herself to his favour:
<i>When the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember
thy handmaid,</i> as one that kept thee from doing that which would
have disgraced thy honour, disquieted thy conscience, and made a
blot in thy history. We have reason to remember those with respect
and gratitude who have been instrumental to keep us from sin.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvi-p0.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.32-1Sam.25.35" parsed="|1Sam|25|32|25|35" passage="1Sa 25:32-35" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.25.32-1Sam.25.35">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvi-p32.2">David Blesses Abigail. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p32.3">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvi-p33">32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed <i>be</i>
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p33.1">Lord</span> God of Israel, which sent
thee this day to meet me:   33 And blessed <i>be</i> thy
advice, and blessed <i>be</i> thou, which hast kept me this day
from coming to <i>shed</i> blood, and from avenging myself with
mine own hand.   34 For in very deed, <i>as</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p33.2">Lord</span> 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 <i>that</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p34"><i>As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament
of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p34.1" osisRef="Bible:Prov.25.12" parsed="|Prov|25|12|0|0" passage="Pr 25:12">Prov. xxv. 12</scripRef>. Abigail was
a wise reprover of David's passion, and he gave an obedient ear to
the reproof, according to his own principle (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p34.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.141.5" parsed="|Ps|141|5|0|0" passage="Ps 141:5">Ps. cxli. 5</scripRef>): <i>Let the righteous smite me,
it shall be a kindness.</i> Never was such an admonition either
better given or better taken.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p35">I. David gives God thanks for sending him
this happy check to a sinful way (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p35.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.32" parsed="|1Sam|25|32|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>): <i>Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me.</i> Note, 1. God is to
be acknowledged in all the kindnesses that our friends do us either
for soul or body. Whoever meet us with counsel, direction, comfort,
caution, or seasonable reproof, we must see God sending them. 2. We
ought to be very thankful for those happy providences which are
means of preventing sin.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p36">II. He gives Abigail thanks for interposing
so opportunely between him and the mischief he was about to do:
<i>Blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p36.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.33" parsed="|1Sam|25|33|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. Most people think it
enough if they take a reproof patiently, but we meet with few that
will take it thankfully and will commend those that give it to them
and accept it as a favour. Abigail did not rejoice more that she
had been instrumental to save her husband and family from death
than David did that Abigail had been instrumental to save him and
his men from sin.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p37">III. He seems very apprehensive of the
great danger he was in, which magnified the mercy of his
deliverance. 1. He speaks of the sin as very great. He was coming
to shed blood, a sin of which when in his right mind he had a great
horror, witness his prayer, <i>Deliver me from
blood-guiltiness.</i> He was coming to <i>avenge himself with his
own hand,</i> and that would be stepping into the throne of God,
who has said, <i>Vengeance is mine; I will repay.</i> The more
heinous any sin is the greater mercy it is to be kept from it. He
seems to aggravate the evil of his design with this, that it would
have been an injury to so wise and good a woman as Abigail: God has
<i>kept me back from hurting thee,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p37.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.34" parsed="|1Sam|25|34|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>. Or perhaps, at the first sight
of Abigail, he was conscious of a thought to do her a mischief for
offering to oppose him, and therefore reckons it a great mercy that
God gave him patience to hear her speak. 2. He speaks of the danger
of his falling into it as very imminent: "<i>Except thou hadst
hasted,</i> the bloody execution had been done." The nearer we were
to the commission of sin the greater was the mercy of a seasonable
restraint—<i>Almost gone</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p37.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.73.2" parsed="|Ps|73|2|0|0" passage="Ps 73:2">Ps.
lxxiii. 2</scripRef>) and yet upheld.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p38">IV. He dismissed her with an answer of
peace, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p38.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.35" parsed="|1Sam|25|35|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>. He
does, in effect, own himself overcome by her eloquence: "<i>I have
hearkened to thy voice,</i> and will not prosecute the intended
revenge, for I <i>have accepted thy person,</i> am well pleased
with thee and what thou hast said." Note, 1. Wise and good men will
hear reason, and let that rule them, though it come from those that
are every way their inferiors, and though their passions are up and
their spirits provoked. 2. Oaths cannot, bind us to that which is
sinful. David had solemnly vowed the death of Nabal. He did evil to
make such a vow, but he would have done worse if he had performed
it. 3. A wise and faithful reproof is often better taken, and
speeds better, than we expected, such is the hold God has of men's
consciences. See <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p38.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.28.23" parsed="|Prov|28|23|0|0" passage="Pr 28:23">Prov. xxviii.
23</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvi-p0.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.36-1Sam.25.44" parsed="|1Sam|25|36|25|44" passage="1Sa 25:36-44" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.25.36-1Sam.25.44">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvi-p38.4">David Marries Abigail. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p38.5">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvi-p39">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 <i>was</i> merry within him, for he <i>was</i> very drunken:
wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning
light.   37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine
was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that
his heart died within him, and he became <i>as</i> a stone.  
38 And it came to pass about ten days <i>after,</i> that the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p39.1">Lord</span> smote Nabal, that he died.   39
And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed
<i>be</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p39.2">Lord</span>, that hath
pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath
kept his servant from evil: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvi-p39.3">Lord</span> 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 herself on <i>her</i> face to the earth, and said,
Behold, <i>let</i> thine handmaid <i>be</i> a servant to wash the
feet of the servants of my lord.   42 And Abigail hasted, and
arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went
after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became
his wife.   43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they
were also both of them his wives.   44 But Saul had given
Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish,
which <i>was</i> of Gallim.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p40">We are now to attend Nabal's funeral and
Abigail's wedding.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p41">I. Nabal's funeral. The apostle speaks of
some that were <i>twice dead,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p41.1" osisRef="Bible:Jude.1.12" parsed="|Jude|1|12|0|0" passage="Jude 1:12">Jude 12</scripRef>. We have hare Nabal <i>thrice</i>
dead, though but just now wonderfully rescued from the sword of
David and delivered from so great a death; for the preservations of
wicked men are but reservations for some further sorer strokes of
divine wrath. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p42">1. <i>Nabal dead drunk,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p42.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.36" parsed="|1Sam|25|36|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>. Abigail came home,
and, it should seem, he had so many people and so much plenty about
him that he neither missed her nor the provisions she took to
David; but she found him in the midst of his jollity, little
thinking how near he was to ruin by one whom he had foolishly made
his enemy. Sinners are often most secure when they are most in
danger and destruction is at the door. Observe, (1.) How
extravagant he was in the entertainment of his company: <i>He held
a feast like the feast of a king,</i> so magnificent and abundant,
though his guests were but his sheep-shearers. This abundance might
have been allowed if he had considered what God gave him his estate
for, not to look great with, but to do good with. It is very common
for those that are most niggardly in any act of piety or charity to
be most profuse in gratifying a vain humour or a base lust. A mite
is grudged to God and his poor; but, to make a <i>fair show in the
flesh, gold is lavished out of the bag.</i> If Nabal had not
answered to his name, he would never have been thus secure and
jovial, till he had enquired whether he was safe from David's
resentments; but (as bishop Hall observes) thus foolish are carnal
men, that give themselves over to their pleasures before they have
taken any care to make their peace with God. (2.) How sottish he
was in the indulgence of his own brutish appetite: <i>He was very
drunk,</i> a sign he was <i>Nabal, a fool,</i> that could not use
his plenty without abusing it, could not be pleasant with his
friends without making a beast of himself. There is not a surer
sign that a man has but little wisdom, nor a surer way to ruin the
little he has, than drinking to excess. Nabal, that never thought
he could bestow too little in charity, never thought he could
bestow too much in luxury. Abigail, finding him in this condition
(and probably those about him little better, when the master of the
feast set them so bad an example), had enough to do to set the
disordered house to-rights a little, but told Nabal nothing of what
she had done with reference to David, nothing of his folly in
provoking David, of his danger or of his deliverance, for, being
drunk, he was as incapable to hear reason as he was to speak it. To
give good advice to those that are in drink is to <i>cast pearls
before swine;</i> it is better to stay till they are sober.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p43">2. Nabal again dead with melancholy,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p43.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.37" parsed="|1Sam|25|37|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>. Next
morning, when he had come to himself a little, his wife told him
how near to destruction he had brought himself and his family by
his own rudeness, and with what difficulty she had interposed to
prevent it; and, upon this, <i>his heart died within him and he
became as a stone.</i> Some suggest that the expense of the
satisfaction made to David, by the present Abigail brought him,
broke his heart: it seems rather that the apprehension he now had
of the danger he had narrowly escaped put him into a consternation,
and seized his spirits so that he could not recover it. He grew
sullen, and said little, ashamed of his own folly, put out of
countenance by his wife's wisdom. How is he changed! His heart
over-night merry with wine, next morning heavy as a stone; so
deceitful are carnal pleasures, so transient the laughter of the
fool. <i>The end of that mirth is heaviness.</i> Drunkards are
sometimes sad when they reflect upon their own folly. Joy in God
makes the heart always light. Abigail could never, by her wise
reasonings, bring Nabal to repentance; but now, by her faithful
reproof, she brings him to despair.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p44">3. Nabal, at last, dead indeed: <i>About
ten days after,</i> when he had been kept so long under this
pressure and pain, <i>the Lord smote him that he died</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p44.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.38" parsed="|1Sam|25|38|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>), and, it
should seem, he never held up his head; it is just with God (says
bishop Hall) that those who live without grace should die without
comfort, nor can we expect better while we go on in our sins. Here
is no lamentation made for Nabal. He departed without being
lamented. Every one wished that the country might never sustain a
greater loss. <i>David,</i> when he heard the news of his death,
<i>gave God thanks</i> for it, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p44.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.39" parsed="|1Sam|25|39|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>. He blessed God, (1.) That he
had kept him from killing him: <i>Blessed be the lord, who hath
kept his servant from evil.</i> He rejoices that Nabal died a
natural death and not by his hand. We should take all occasions to
mention and magnify God's goodness to us in keeping us from sin.
(2.) That he had taken the work into his own hands, and had
vindicated David's honour, and not suffered him to go unpunished
who had been abusive to him; hereby his interest would be
confirmed, and all would stand in awe of him, as one for whom God
fought. (3.) That he had thereby encouraged him and all others to
commit their cause to God, when they are in any way injured, with
an assurance that, in his own time, he will redress their wrongs if
they sit still and leave the matter to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p45">II. Abigail's wedding. David was so charmed
with the beauty of her person, and the uncommon prudence of her
conduct and address, that, as soon as was convenient, after he
heard she was a widow, he informed her of his attachment to her
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p45.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.39" parsed="|1Sam|25|39|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>), not
doubting but that she who approved herself so good a wife to so bad
a husband as Nabal would much more make a good wife to him, and
having taken notice of her respect to him and her confidence of his
coming to the throne. 1. He courted by proxy, his affairs, perhaps,
not permitting him to come himself. 2. She received the address
with great modesty and humility (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p45.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.41" parsed="|1Sam|25|41|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>), reckoning herself unworthy of
the honour, yet having such a respect for him that she would gladly
be one of the poorest servants of his family, to wash the feet of
the other servants. None so fit to be preferred as those that can
thus humble themselves. 3. She agreed to the proposal, went with
his messenger, took a retinue with her agreeable to her quality,
and <i>she became his wife,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p45.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.42" parsed="|1Sam|25|42|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>. She did not upbraid him with
his present distresses, and ask him how he could maintain her, but
valued him, (1.) Because she knew he was a very good man. (2.)
Because she believed he would, in due time, be a very great man.
She married him in faith, not questioning but that, though now he
had not a house of his own that he durst bring her to, yet God's
promise go him would at length be fulfilled. Thus those who join
themselves to Christ must be willing now to suffer with him,
believing that hereafter they shall reign with him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvi-p46"><i>Lastly,</i> On this occasion we have
some account of David's wives. 1. One that he had lost before he
married Abigail, Michal, Saul's daughter, his first, and the wife
of his youth, to whom he would have been constant if she would have
been so to him, but Saul had given her to another (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p46.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.44" parsed="|1Sam|25|44|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:44"><i>v.</i> 44</scripRef>), in token of his
displeasure against him and disclaiming the relation of a
father-in-law to him. 2. Another that he married besides Abigail
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p46.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.43" parsed="|1Sam|25|43|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>), and, as
should seem, before her, for she is named first, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p46.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.27.3" parsed="|1Sam|27|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 27:3"><i>ch.</i> xxvii. 3</scripRef>. David was carried away
by the corrupt custom of those times; but from the beginning it was
not so, nor is it so now that Messias has come, and the times of
reformation, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvi-p46.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.19.4-Matt.19.5" parsed="|Matt|19|4|19|5" passage="Mt 19:4,5">Matt. xix. 4,
5</scripRef>. Perhaps Saul's defrauding David of his only rightful
wife was the occasion of his running into this irregularity; for,
when the knot of conjugal affection is once loosed, it is scarcely
ever tied fast again. When David could not keep his first wife he
thought that would excuse him if he did not keep to his second. But
we deceive ourselves if we think to make others' faults a cloak for
our own.</p>
</div></div2>