Nabel Rejects David’s Message of Protection
August 29, 2019
Commentary
Samuel, the spiritual leader of Israel for many years, dies and is buried with honors in Ramah, the place where he was born. Historians say that the prophet was in his nineties when he died. Without Samuel, the spiritual leadership of Israel is gone until David becomes King.
The scene shifts to Nabal and his wife, Abigail, who are rich with this worlds goods and live in Carmel (v. 2). He had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep, which must have required a considerable amount of pasture land and would have given him virtual monopoly over the smaller farmers of the area.
On the basis of kindness and protection, David sends a ten-person delegation asking for food for his people. His request was legitimate in light of the favors he and his men had done for Nabal. Nabal, with utter contempt, scoffed at this request and refused to give anything. David’s men had no option but to return empty-handed. This so angered David that he decided to take 400 men and take forcibly from Nabal what he wanted.
David’s attitude in this situation is in marked contrast to what it had been when he spared Saul’s life. With Saul, he had been controlled by spiritual principles and now he was intent on personal revenge. Perhaps this was at least partially due to the fact that the council of his dear friend and confidant, Samuel, was now gone.
Application
I should never allow the action of people govern our attitudes and reactions toward them but seek to apply the principles of God’s word in each situation.
1 Samuel 25:1– 17 (NET)
1 Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2 There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. This man was very wealthy; he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. At that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.
4 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 5 he sent ten servants, saying to them, “Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name. 6 Then you will say to my brother, ‘Peace to you and your house! Peace to all that is yours! 7 Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. Please provide us—your servants and your son David—with whatever you can spare.’”
9 So David’s servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in David’s name. Then they paused. 10 But Nabal responded to David’s servants, “Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters! 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t even know where they came from!”
12 So David’s servants went on their way. When they had returned, they came and told David all these things. 13 Then David instructed his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So each one strapped on his sword, and David also strapped on his sword. About 400 men followed David, while 200 stayed behind with the equipment.
14 But one of the servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our lord, but he screamed at them. 15 These men were very good to us. They did not insult us, nor did we sustain any loss during the entire time we were together in the field. 16 Both night and day they were a protective wall for us the entire time we were with them, while we were tending our flocks. 17 Now be aware of this, and see what you can do. For disaster has been planned for our lord and his entire household. He is such a wicked person that no one tells him anything!”