1 Samuel 25:1 -- During the time of truce between Saul and David, Samuel passed away. David is free to pay his respects, then heads out to Paran. Recall that this is the north-central Sinai Peninsula, and was used in ancient times as seasonal pasturage for sheep and goats.
25:2-9 -- A very wealthy Calebite brought his sheep in for shearing. He had a wife, Abigail ("Source of Joy") who was everything he was not. The man's name translates as "Fool." To be a fool in the Hebrew sense meant more than poor judgment, but to reject all that was good in life for the sake of selfish indulgence. This man had few friends, and deservedly so. Sheep-shearing was typically the end of March, and was one of several major agricultural celebrations. Shortly following would be the grain harvest with more celebrations. The sheep usually found shearing quite a relief from the coming summer heat. Quite likely the man had pastured his flocks as far south as the Wilderness of Paran for the winter. David and his men had given good protection to everyone in the southern end of Canaan. We must not forget that raiding tribesmen had not simply gone away with the Conquest. David's presence in the area made life better for everyone. When he sent messengers to Nabal to share in the celebration, he didn't really ask that much, just whatever Nabal found convenient to send. It is highly unlikely Nabal was the only on to receive such a visit, but was surely the most wealthy.
25:10-13 -- Nabal was not politically active on Saul's behalf. However, that was a part of the excuse he gave, alleging David was no more than a runaway slave. It would be difficult for him to have said anything more insulting. Even today, Bedouins receive gifts which in our eyes amount to a protection racket. Roving bands of armed men can be a major problem, but David was anything but a problem. Nabal also acted as if he couldn't afford any gifts. David mobilized two-thirds of his forces.
25:14-17 -- Nabal's servants knew better than he. One of them informed their mistress of Nabal's stupidity in rejecting David's peaceful overture. In the process, he affirmed that David truly deserved better. Even had he not known David's plan, no one would be surprised at some sort of retribution. Nabal's rebuff was essentially a criminal breach of social obligation.
25:18-22 -- What Abigail prepared to send would have been a decent meal for about 200 men. This was no doubt a small portion of what had already been prepared for the festival. While we cannot know where precisely this story is set, it's easy enough to envision if you could see southern Palestine today. Without informing Nabal of her actions, Abigail had the food sent ahead of her, while she ensured he noticed nothing. When the convoy was out of sight, she herself rode on a donkey to meet David. She would have screened her actions by taking the same route out that David would have taken coming in. Since sheep-shearing almost surely took place in a flat valley area, a wise raider would have approached from one of the numerous wadis in the area, or from behind a hill, out of sight until it was too late for the target to mount a defense. In this case, there was apparently a distinct hill or ridge above the shearing floor. David had already advertised his intent to kill all the men in Nabal's household, though apparently Nabal was unaware.
25:23-31 -- Abigail approached David as an important woman, but made it clear she was honoring him as a lord. Her words were carefully chosen, and showed she was wiser than most men. She took the blame for the incident, and agreed that her husband was complete idiot. she seized upon the image of God having prevented David from avenging a grave insult, because the Lord would handle this sin Himself. Better that the future king should not create hard feelings unnecessarily with the local population. She mentions how Saul's schemes had failed, because Jehovah regarded David as a precious stone, and his enemies as something disposable, like a sling stone. She ended with the standard appeal for consideration whan all this came true, as a means of affirming she really expected it to happen.
25:32-38 -- David realized he was in the presence of a living gift from God. He praised Abigail's wisdom, and promised she had well succeeded in her mission. Upon returning home, she found her husband hosting a royal feast. He husband having by now become drunk, she waited before explaining things. By morning he had slept it off, and she told him the whole story. The shock to him was so severe he became more or less catatonic. Within ten days, he died.
25:39-44 -- Learning of Nabal's death by God's hand, David rejoiced how things turned out. Far better to let Jehovah handle His own business. Abigail was so clearly superior among women, David proposed marriage to her. She accepted with all seriousness, and brought along a retinue of 5 hand-maidens. This serves to remind the reader that, while seldom mentioned, virtually everyone of importance would have had at least one servant or slave with them at all times. We are informed at this point that David had already married Ahinoam from Jezreel. She is always mentioned first when David's wives are listed, so she held the place of David's first wife. Michal, having had a very brief consort with David, was passed off to someone else. This was an insult and crime against David, and set the other fellow up for unnecessary suffering later.
26:1-4 -- The people of Ziph were ever eager to please Saul, and rid themselves of David. They reported to Saul David's campsite near Jeshimon, a place currently unidentified. Saul mobilized his usual 3000-man force and camped in the place where he was told David was hiding. The wary David had seen them coming and moved further out into the wilderness. Meanwhile, his spies kept an eye on Saul's forces.
26:5-12 -- From one of the nearby hilltops, David came to see for himself what he was up against. Observing them asleep, David asked two warriors which of them was in the mood for closer look. Ahimelech was a Hittite, one of the race that had held ascendancy in the land from the time of Abraham, until their empire collapsed around 1600BC, a century and a half before the Conquest. They still carried the pride of conquering warriors, though now serving in the armies of other nations. Abishai was a fellow Hebrew, and would prove himself one of David's best supporters. It was he who volunteered to go as backup. The pair managed to creep up to Saul's sleeping place. Saul's erstwhile scepter, a decorated spear, was standing in the ground at his head. It would have borne distinctive markings, as might the water jar there, too. In an odd reversal, Abishai suggested that this same spear, having been thrown at David at least twice, be used to finish this business of living on the run by killing Saul with it. Abishai was certain he could finish the job with one stroke. David restrained him, warning that he was sure Saul's fate had already been set by God. However, he would take the spear and water jug in yet another attempt to get Saul's attention. God assured that no one could catch them, by keeping the camp under a supernatural heavy sleep.
26:13-20 -- After hiking a safe distance away, up to the top of the hill again, David called out the Abner, the chief bodyguard. Abner's response was to ask who dared to wake the king. David responded that with all Abner's devotion and combat prowess, he had failed spectacularly. To prove his point, David showed his trophies. Abner was shamed in to silence. Saul confirmed that it was David calling out. Again, David asked what it was all about, this constant pursuit of a nobody. If Saul was there in response to a command from God, then David could settle that with God in accordance with the Law. God was perfectly reasonable about such things. In contrast, David indicated that it was more likely a mere human agency, deserving a curse. This was because of the net effect of this persecution was to drive David away from Jehovah. It was typical of someone adopting a new country to adopt the local deity there, as well. David's ancestor Ruth had done this. Perhaps someone expected David to do the same, perhaps among the Philistines. David urged Saul to end the feud.
26:21-25 -- Saul expressed anew the sense of guilt that David was a better man, unworthy of any harm. David's response was to return the symbol of royalty -- the spear -- and included a hint of that being "the Lord's anointed" carried a heavy burden of responsibility for acting right. Saul pronounced a sort of blessing on David, and two parted again in peace.
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Ed Hurst
29 May 2004
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