Resource > Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable) >
1 Samuel >
Exposition >
IV. SAUL AND DAVID 1 Sam. 16--31 >
C. David in Exile chs. 21-30 >
3. David's goodness to two fools ch. 24-26 >
David's sparing of Nabal's life ch. 25 >
Nabal's servant appealed to Abigail to reverse Nabal's orders. He testified that God had blessed Nabal's shepherds greatly through David. David's soldiers had been a wall of protection for them (v. 16). One of the characteristics of a fool is that he or she does not listen to other people (v. 17). Nabal was such a fool that he did not even listen to God. If he 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]).253
"Together they underscore one of the major themes of the story: Good brings its own reward, while evil recoils on the head of the wicked."254
