1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 97David overreacted to Nabal's insulting rebuff (v. 13). He prepared to attack and kill everymale in Nabal's household that very night (vv. 22, 34)A servant's appeal to Abigail 25:14-17Nabal's servant appealed to Abigail to reverse Nabal's orders. He testified that God hadblessed Nabal's shepherds greatly through David. David's soldiers had been a wall ofprotection for them (v. 16). One of the characteristics of a fool is that he or she does notlisten to other people (v. 17). Nabal was such a fool that he did not even listen to God. Ifhe had, he would have known that David was the Lord's anointed servant (cf. v. 30).The Hebrew words for "good" and "evil" each occur seven times in chapter 25 (vv. 3, 8,15, 21, 30, 31, 36, and 3, 17, 21, 26, 34, 39 [twice]). 277"Together they underscore one of the major themes of the story: Goodbrings its own reward, while evil recoils on the head of the wicked." 278Abigail's preparations for appealing to David 25:18-22As Abimelech had done earlier (21:4), Abigail prepared to sustain the Lord's anointedand his men with food. 279 Was it proper for her to do this without telling her husband? Iwould say that it was since she was attempting to save Nabal's life. If she had told him,he probably would not have permitted her to go and would have died at David's hand as aresult.Abigail's appeal to David 25:23-31Abigail's approach to David was a model of tact and courage. Visualize this solitarywoman riding a donkey approaching 400 armed men who were riding horses and werebent on slaughtering her household. It took immense courage and boldness as well asgreat wisdom for Abigail to take her life in her hands and do what she did.First, Abigail took all the blame for her husband's foolish actions on herself. In this shereminds us of Jesus Christ who also rode into the teeth of His enemies on a donkey, tookon Himself the sins of generations of fools, and was willing to suffer the consequencesunselfishly. Abigail begged David to listen to her; her own husband would not (cf. v. 17).Nabal had proudly described David as a runaway servant (v. 10), but Abigail presentedherself humbly as a servant to David (v. 24).She described her husband as a fool (v. 25). Is this how a wife should speak of herhusband, even if he is a fool? Perhaps she meant that in responding to David as he hadNabal had substantiated what others called him. If David had interpreted her descriptionof her husband as disloyal, it is doubtful that David would have asked her to marry himlater (v. 40). She might have proved disloyal to him too.277 Gunn, p. 96.278 Youngblood, p. 753.279 Compare Jacob's similar scheme to placate Esau (Gen. 32:13-21).