1 Samuel 25:39-42 NIV,NKJV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 25:40

(40) When the servants of David were come to Abigail.—The time that had elapsed between the death of Nabal and this mission of David to Abigail is not specified. The legal time of mourning was fixed at only seven days, but a very considerable period may have elapsed in this case. S. Ambrose allegorises here, as is usual in Patristic expositions, and compares the espousals of Abigail to David after Nabar’s death to the union of the Church (i.e., the Gentile world) to Christ after the cessation... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

CHAPTER XXXII.DAVID AND NABAL.1 Samuel 25:1-44.WE should be forming far too low an estimate of the character of the people of Israel if we did not believe that they were very profoundly moved by the death of Samuel. Even admitting that but a small proportion of them are likely to have been in warm sympathy with his ardent godliness, he was too remark- able a man, and he had been too conspicuous a figure in the history of the nation, not to be greatly missed, and much spoken of and thought of,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

CHAPTER 25 1. The death of Samuel (1 Samuel 25:1 ) 2. Nabal and his refusal (1 Samuel 25:2-13 ) 3. Abigail’s deed and her prayer (1 Samuel 25:14-31 ) 4. David’s answer to Abigail (1 Samuel 25:32-35 ) 5. Nabal’s death (1 Samuel 25:36-38 ) 6. Abigail becomes David’s wife (1 Samuel 25:39-44 ) After the death of Samuel, briefly mentioned in the beginning of this chapter, David went still further south into the wilderness of Paran. An interesting story, the story of Nabal and Abigail,... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 25:39

25:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to {s} take her to him to wife.(s) For he had experienced her great godliness, wisdom and humility. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

David's moral victory over Saul and over his own natural instincts has been most admirable. However, in this chapter we see him showing just the opposite attitude. It seems hardly possible that this can be the same man. We are told first of Samuel's death, which involves a significant change in Israel. David no longer had the steadying influence of this man of God over him. All Israel mourned his death, for they no longer enjoyed his godly influence. But changes are inevitable, each succeeding... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:1-44

MORE BROKEN PROMISES DAVID AND ABIGAIL (1 Samuel 25:0 ) The romance of this chapter has a setting like this: The Wilderness of Paran on the south was a common pasture like our prairies, and for this reason open to marauders from among the Arabs. David and his men must have been a protection to their countrymen from such incursions, and in the habit of receiving practical acknowledgments of their service. Nabal was a rich sheep owner who must have been indebted to them, and “good business,”... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:39

(39) And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. What must have been the thoughts of David when these tidings were brought him. Reader! it is a blessed thing when God's people can leave all their affairs with their God. The... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:40-44

(40) And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. (41) And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. (42) And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. (43) David also... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 25:39

Blessed be, &c. David praises God on this occasion, not out of joy for the death of Nabal, (which would have argued a rancour of heart) but because he saw that God had so visibly taken his cause in hand, in punishing the injury done to him; whilst, by a merciful providence, he kept him from revenging himself. (Challoner) (Psalm lvii. 10.) read more