1 Samuel 25:1--27:12
Samuel <08050> [A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060. An. Ex. Is 431. Samuel.]
mourned <05594> [lamented.]
[in this house.]
desert <04057> [the wilderness.]
Maon <04584> [Maon.]
business .... Carmel ......................... Carmel <04639 03760> [possessions were. or, business was. Carmel.]
Not the famous mount Carmel, in the north of Canaan, and in the tribe of Asher; but a city, on a mountain of the same name, in the south of Judah, which seems to have given name to the surrounding territory. Eusebius and Jerome inform us, that there was in their time a town called Carmelia, ten miles east from Hebron, where the Romans kept a garrison, whose position well agrees with this Carmel.
man .......... man <0376> [man.]
three thousand ..... thousand <0505 07969> [three thousand.]
shearing <01494> [shearing.]
This was a very ancient custom, and appears to have been always attended with festivity. The ancient Romans, however, used to pluck off the wool from the sheep's backs; and hence a fleece was called {vellus,} a {vellendo,} from plucking it off. Pliny says, that in his time sheep were not shorn every where, but in some places the wool was still plucked off.
Carmel ......................... Carmel <03760> [Carmel.]
wise <02896> [good.]
harsh <07186> [was churlish.]
<03614> [and he was.]
{Wehoo calibbee,} literally, "and he was a Calebite;" but as the word {cailev} signifies a dog, the Septuagint has understood it as implying a man of canine disposition, and translated it, [kai anthropov kunikos,] "and he was a doggish man." It is understood in the same way by the Syriac and Arabic.
shearing <01494> [did shear.]
give ...... name <07592 08034> [greet him, etc. Heb. ask him in my name of peace.]
brother <02416> [liveth.]
Peace ....... Peace <07965> [Peace be both.]
shepherds <07462> [thy shepherds.]
In those times, and at the present day, wandering Arabs, under their several chiefs, think that they have a right to exact contributions of provisions, etc., wherever they come. But David, though he lived in the wilderness like the Arab emirs, had not adopted their manners: one of them, at the head of 600 men, would have demanded, from time to time, some provision or present from Nabal's servants, for permitting them to feed at quiet; and would have driven them away from the watering place upon any dislike. David had done nothing of this kind; but had protected them against those who would.
insulted <03637> [we hurt. Heb. we shamed.]
time .... holiday <03117 02896> [a good day.]
son <01121> [thy son.]
paused <05117> [ceased. Heb. rested. or, became quiet.]
David's ..... David <01732> [Who is David.]
<07231> [there be.]
take <03947> [Shall I then.]
meat <02878> [flesh. Heb. slaughter. give it.]
know <03045> [whom.]
came <0935> [came.]
strap ........ strapped ........ strapped <02296> [Gird ye.]
David ........ strap ........ strapped ...... David ... strapped .......... David <01732 02296> [David also.]
hundred ........ hundred <03967> [two hundred.]
screamed <05860> [railed on them. Heb. flew upon them.]
very good <02896 03966> [very good.]
insult <03637> [hurt. Heb. shamed.]
wall <02346> [a wall.]
disaster <07451> [evil.]
wicked person <01100 01121> [a son of Belial.]
tells <01696> [that a man.]
quickly <04116> [made haste.]
took ... hundred .................. hundred ....... hundred <03947 03967> [took two.]
The Eastern bread is generally both thin and small; and answers to our cakes.
two containers <05035 08147> [two bottles.]
That is, two goatskins' full.
five ... sheep five <06629 02568> [five sheep.]
Not one sheep to one hundred men.
bunches of raisins <06778> [clusters. Heb. lumps. Raisins dried in the sun.]
lumps .... figs ... loaded <01690 07760> [cakes of figs.]
Figs cured and then pressed together. Now all this provision was a matter of little worth; and had it been granted in the first instance, it would have perfectly satisfied David, and secured his good offices.
Go <05674> [Go.]
tell <05046> [But.]
Riding <07392> [rode.]
down ............. down <03381> [she came down.]
David was coming down mount Paran; Abigail was coming down from Carmel.
vain <08267> [Surely.]
from <07725> [he hath requited.]
severely <03541 03254> [So and more.]
Nothing can justify this conduct of David, which was rash, unjust, and cruel in the extreme. David himself condemns it, and thanks God for being prevented from executing this evil. (ver. 32-34.)
leave <07604> [if I leave.]
male <08366> [any that pisseth, etc.]
This seems to have been a proverbial expression among the Israelites; and may with the utmost propriety be read "any male."
down <03381> [lighted.]
threw <05307> [fell.]
Falling <05307> [fell.]
lord ...... guilt <0113 05771> [Upon.]
female servant ............. servant <0519> [let thine.]
<0241> [audience. Heb. ears.]
attention <03820> [regard. Heb. lay it to his heart.]
wicked man <01100 0376> [man of Belial.]
Nabal ................. foolish <05037> [Nabal. that is, fool.]
surely .... Lord ........ live ..... Lord <03068 02416> [as the Lord liveth.]
lives <05315> [and as thy.]
Lord ............ Lord .... kept <03068 04513> [the Lord hath.]
shedding .... taking matters <0935 03467> [from.]
taking matters ..... hands <03467 03027> [avenging thyself. Heb. saving thyself.]
enemies <0341> [now let.]
present <01293> [blessing. or, present.]
follow <01980> [follow. Heb. walk at the feet of.]
forgive <05375> [forgive.]
Lord .................. Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
fights <03898> [fighteth.]
evil ... found <07451 04672> [evil hath.]
wrapped <06887> [bound.]
The metaphors in this verse are derived from the consideration, that things of value are collected together, and often tied up in bundles, like sheaves of corn, to prevent their being scattered and lost, and that whatever is put into a sling is not intended to be preserved, but to be thrown away.
Lord <03068> [with the Lord.]
sling away <07049> [sling out.]
from ... sling's <08432 07050> [as out of the middle of a sling. Heb. in the midst of the bow of a sling.]
<02896> [according.]
overwhelmed <06330> [grief. Heb. staggering, or, stumbling.]
taken matters <03467> [avenged.]
remember <02142> [remember.]
David overlooks the rich and seasonable present of Abigail, though pressed with hunger and wearied with travel; but her advice, which disarmed his rage, and calmed his revenge, draws forth these high and affectionate gratulations. These were his joyful and glorious trophies; not over his enemies, but over himself.
Praised .......... rewarded <01288> [blessed.]
prevented <03607> [which hast.]
taking matters <03467> [avenging.]
prevented <04513> [kept me back.]
so quickly <04116> [hasted.]
remained <03498> [there had.]
Go <05927> [Go up.]
responded <05375> [accepted.]
banquet <04960> [a feast.]
good <02896> [merry.]
told .... nothing <05046 01697> [she told him.]
told ..... matters <05046 01697> [had told him.]
stroke <03820> [his heart.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Praised <01288> [Blessed.]
vindicated <07378> [pleaded.]
kept ... servant <05650 02820> [kept his servant.]
repaid <07725> [hath returned.]
asked ...... wife <03947 0802> [to take her.]
It is probable that David had heard that Saul, to cut off his pretensions to the throne, had married Michal to Phalti; and this justified him in taking Abigail, it not being then unlawful for a man to have several wives. This conduct of David's corresponds with the manner in which the Oriental princes generally form their matrimonial alliances. "The king of Abyssinia," says Mr. Bruce, "sends an officer to the house where the lady lives, who announces to her that it is the king's pleasure she should remove instantly to the palace. She then dresses herself in the best manner, and immediately obeys. Thenceforward he assigns her an apartment in the palace, and gives her a house elsewhere in any part she chooses."
David ........... David ... sent <01732 07971> [David sent.]
female servant <0519> [thine.]
wash <07364> [to wash.]
Abigail <026> [Abigail.]
[after her. Heb. at her feet.]
Jezreel <03157> [Jezreel.]
two <08147> [both.]
wives <0802> [his wives.]
Saul <07586> [But Saul.]
Rather, "For Saul," etc., as the particle [VÆ’v,] {wav,} frequently signifies; this being the cause why David took another wife.
Michal <04324> [Michal.]
Paltiel <06406> [Phalti.]
[Phaltiel. Gallim.]
This town appears to have been situated in the tribe of Benjamin, as it is mentioned in Isa 10:30, with Michmash, Geba, etc.
Ziphites <02130> [Ziphites.]
David <01732> [Doth not.]
Saul arose <06965 07586> [Saul arose.]
three thousand <0505 07969> [three thousand.]
Hakilah <02444> [Hachilah.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
entrenchment <04570> [trench. or, midst of his carriages.]
The word {maÂgal} never signifies a ditch or rampart, but a chariot or waggon way. Nor does it seem to denote a ring of carriages, as Buxtorf and others interpret the word; for it is not probable that Saul would encumber his army with baggage in so rapid a pursuit, nor that so mountainous a country was practicable for waggons. It appears simply to mean here, the circular encampment (from {agal,} "round") which these troops formed, in the midst of which, as being the place of honour, Saul reposed. An Arab camp, D'Arvieux informs us, is always circular, when the disposition of the ground will permit, the prince being in the middle, and the troops at a respectful distance around him. Add to which, their lances are fixed near them in the ground all the day long, ready for action.
Hittite <02850> [Hittite.]
Abishai .................. Abishai <052> [to Abishai.]
Zeruiah <06870> [Zeruiah.]
down .............. down <03381> [Who will go.]
asleep <03463> [sleeping.]
God <0430> [God.]
delivered <05462> [delivered. Heb. shut up.]
necessary <08138> [the second time.]
extend <07971> [who can stretch.]
Lord lives ... Lord <02416 03068> [the Lord liveth.]
day <03117> [his day.]
down <03381> [he shall descend.]
extending <07971> [that I should.]
David <01732> [So David.]
deep sleep <08639> [a deep sleep.]
top <07218> [the top.]
David, by retiring to a place of safety before he called to Abner, seems to have manifested more distrust of Saul than he had done on a former occasion. Yet he desired that Saul and all Israel should be informed of his conduct at this time. Abner and his soldiers, by neglecting to guard Saul when he slept, had exposed his life, and merited to be treated as his enemies, though he confided in them as friends; for, although their sound sleep was undoubtedly supernatural, yet there might be a neglect of placing sentinels, arising from contempt of David's small company. Saul also deemed David his enemy, though he had before spared and protected his life.
came <0935> [there came.]
[worthy to die. Heb. the sons of death.]
Lord ............ Lord's <03068> [Lord's.]
voice ....... voice .......... voice <06963> [Is this thy.]
lord <0113> [Wherefore.]
done <06213> [what have I.]
lord <0113> [let my lord.]
incited <05496> [stirred.]
take delight <07306> [accept. Heb. smell.]
cursed <0779> [cursed.]
driven ... away <01644> [they have driven.]
united <05596> [abiding. Heb. cleaving. the inheritance.]
blood <01818> [let not my.]
king <04428> [the king.]
flea .... one <0259 06550> [a flea.]
{Parosh,} (in Arabic {borghooth,} Syriac, {poorthano,}) the well known little contemptible and troublesome insect, the flea, seems to be so called from its agility in leaping and skipping, from {para,} "free," and {raash,} "to leap, bound." David, by comparing himself to this insect, seems to import, that while it would cost Saul much pains to catch him, he would obtain but very little advantage from it.
partridge <07124> [a partridge.]
{Korai} certainly denotes the partridge, which is called in Arabic, {kir„a.} It seems to be so called from the cry or {cur} which it utters when calling its young.
sinned <02398> [I have sinned.]
harm <07489> [I will no.]
life <05315> [my soul.]
<07725> [render.]
willing ... extend <014 07971> [I would not.]
life ......... life <05315> [as thy life.]
deliver <05337> [let him deliver.]
rewarded <01288> [Blessed.]
without question ... successful <03201> [prevail.]
David ........ David ......... David <01732> [So David.]
David <01732> [A.M. 2946. B.C. 1058. An. Ex. Is. 433. And David.]
swept <05595> [I shall.]
This was a rash conclusion: God had caused him to be anointed king of Israel, and promised his accession to the throne, and had so often interposed in his behalf, that he was authorised to believe the very reverse.
swept <05595> [perish. Heb. be consumed. there is nothing.]
land <0776> [into the land.]
David <01732> [David.]
This measure of David's, in uniting himself to the enemies of his God and people, was highly blameable; was calculated to alienate the affections of the Israelites; and led to equivocation, if not downright falsehood.
six <08337> [the six.]
Achish <0397> [Achish.]
two <08147> [with his two.]
search <01245> [he sought.]
one ..... towns ................ city <05892 0259> [some town.]
Ziklag ........ Ziklag <06860> [Ziklag.]
Ziklag was at first given to the tribe of Judah, but was afterwards ceded to that of Simeon; but as it bordered on the Philistines, if they had ever been expelled, they had retaken it. Eusebius simply says it was situated in the south of Canaan.
length of time <04557> [the time. Heb. the number of days. a full year. Heb. a year of days.]
Geshurites <01651> [A.M. 2948. B.C. 1056. An. Ex. Is. 435. the Geshurites.]
Girzites <01511> [Gezrites. or, Gerzites.]
These people seem to be the Gerrhenians, (2 Mac 13:24) whose chief city, Gerrha, is mentioned by Strabo as lying between Gaza and Pelusium in Egypt.
Amalekites <06003> [the Amalekites.]
approach <0935> [as thou goest.]
man <0376> [left neither.]
camels <01581> [and the camels.]
<0408> [Whither, etc. or, Did you not make a road. And David.]
Negev ...... Negev ...... Negev <05045> [Against.]
David here meant the Geshurites, and Gezrites, and Amalekites, which people occupied that part of the country which lies to the south of Judah. But Achish, as was intended, understood him in a different sense, and believed that he had attacked his own countrymen. David's answer, therefore, though not an absolute falsehood, was certainly an equivocation intended to deceive, and therefore incompatible with that sense of truth and honour which became him as a prince, and a professor of true religion. From these, and similar passages, we may observe the strict impartiality of the Sacred Scriptures. They present us with the most faithful delineation of human nature; they exhibit the frailties of kings, priests, and prophets, with equal truth; and examples of vice and frailty, as well as of piety and virtue, are held up, that we may guard against the errors to which the best men are exposed.
Jeharmeel <03397> [the Jerahmeelites.]
Kenites <07017> [Kenites.]
tell <05046> [Lest.]
hated <0887> [utterly to abhor. Heb. to stink.]
