1 Samuel 25:4

³His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.⁴While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.⁵So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name

Summary

This verse introduces Nabal, a wealthy man from Maon, who is described as harsh and evil in his dealings. Despite his wealth, Nabal's character is highlighted as negative, setting the stage for the events that will unfold in the following verses. The mention of Nabal's wife, Abigail, who is described as intelligent and beautiful, foreshadows her role in averting disaster through her wisdom and actions. This verse serves as the beginning of a narrative that showcases the contrast between Nabal's folly and Abigail's prudence, ultimately leading to a significant outcome.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Nabal did shear his sheep, and David sent out ten young men, &c.--David and his men lurked in these deserts, associating with the herdsmen and shepherds of Nabal and others and doing them good offices, probably in return for information and supplies obtained through them. Hence when Nabal held his annual sheep-shearing in Carmel, David felt himself entitled to share in the festival and sent a message, recounting his own services and asking for a present. "In all these particulars we were deeply struck with the truth and strength of the biblical description of manners and customs almost identically the same as they exist at the present day. On such a festive occasion, near a town or village, even in our own time, an Arab sheik of the neighboring desert would hardly fail to put in a word either in person or by message; and his message, both in form and substance, would be only a transcript of that of David" [ROBINSON].