1Sa 25:3-42 | TNotes | STEP | 25:3 Nabal: See 25:25 for insight into the irony of his name. • Unlike her husband, Abigail was a sensible and wise person, as the narrative shows.

25:3 ^a Nabal: See 25:25 ^b for insight into the irony of his name.

• Unlike her husband, Abigail was a sensible and wise person, as the narrative shows.
25:8 ^c Sheep-shearing time for herdsmen was like harvest time for farmers, a time of celebration and thankfulness for blessings.
25:10 ^d son of Jesse: Like Saul (20:27 ^e, 31 ^f; 22:7 ^g), Nabal used this designation disrespectfully.
25:21 ^h he has repaid me evil for good: Cp. 24:17 ⁱ.
25:26 ^j Abigail began and ended (25:31 ^k) her plea by declaring that God had kept you from murdering and taking vengeance: David could have killed Nabal (and Saul), but he didn’t.
25:28 ^l a lasting dynasty: See 2 Sam 7 ^m.

• fighting the Lord’s battles: David was known and loved for his victories over Israel’s enemies (1 Sam 18:7 ⁿ, 13 ^o, 16 ^p).

• have not done wrong: This comment does not indicate that David was sinless, but rather that he was innocent in his quest for the throne (as 25:29-31 ^q makes clear).
25:29 ^r The phrase like stones shot from a sling is a fitting metaphor for David, considering his defeat of Goliath with a sling (17:32-51 ^s).
25:36 ^t like a king: Nabal was like Saul (see study note on 25:1-44).
25:37 ^u Nabal was so stunned by the revelation that he had a stroke or a heart attack.
25:39 ^v Nabal’s death was God’s punishment for his sin. David could not be accused of vengeful murder.

• David lost no time in asking Abigail to become his wife. She had already shown herself to be a woman of good sense, and she was also beautiful (25:3 ^w).