撒母耳記上25章1-20節
撒母耳記上25章1-20節: 講義(龍漢泉弟兄)
大衛、拿八、與亞比該
在前一章（24章）裡面大衛雖然有機會在隱基底的山洞裡殺了掃羅，但是大衛卻沒有下手。他因為敬畏神，所以不敢伸手害耶和華的受膏者。另外一方面，掃羅雖然表現得很感動，並且承認大衛將來必定會做王，但顯然大衛不能完全相信掃羅，因為掃羅的信用不太可靠。他曾經發誓應許不加害大衛（19:6 掃羅聽了約拿單的話，就指着永生的耶和華起誓說：「我必不殺他。」），但後來卻食言了。他從19章開始就不斷地追逼殺害大衛，一直到24章。而且掃羅的耳目無處不在，無論大衛在何處都有人去告密。這一次在隱基底被追殺，也是因為有人告密，所以隱基底已經不再是一個安全的藏身之處了。因此大衛決定離開隱基底，另找藏身之處。
I. 大衛遣僕詣拿八（1-8）
25:1 撒母耳死了，以色列眾人聚集，為他哀哭，將他葬在拉瑪他自己的墳墓裏。大衛起身，下到巴蘭的曠野。
25:2 在瑪雲有一個人，他的產業在迦密，是一個大富戶，有三千綿羊，一千山羊；他正在迦密剪羊毛。
25:3 那人名叫拿八，是迦勒族的人；他的妻名叫亞比該，是聰明俊美的婦人。拿八為人剛愎凶惡。
25:4 大衛在曠野聽見說拿八剪羊毛，
25:5 大衛就打發十個僕人，吩咐他們說：「你們上迦密去見拿八，提我的名問他安。
25:6 要對那富戶如此說：『願你平安，願你家平安，願你一切所有的都平安。
25:7 現在我聽說有人為你剪羊毛，你的牧人在迦密的時候和我們在一處，我們沒有欺負他們，他們也未曾失落甚麼。
25:8 可以問你的僕人，他們必告訴你。所以願我的僕人在你眼前蒙恩，因為是在好日子來的。求你隨手取點賜與僕人和你兒子大衛。』」
1『撒母耳死了』
撒母耳去世（~1015BC，學者估計85歲左右）。他是以色列最後一位同時兼任士師（政治上的領袖），祭司（宗教上的領袖），以及先知（神的代言人）的神僕，也象徵了基督將來的職分：先知、祭司、君王。
以色列眾人聚集，為他哀哭』
他的去世代表以色列一個時代的結束，從此以色列人完全進入了君王統治的時代。他對以色列所作的貢獻，有目共睹。他復興了以色列的屬靈光景，以士師的身份治理他們，又帶領以色列人打敗了非利士人，設立了先知學校，先後按立了兩任君王，因此以色列人聚集為他記念哀哭。縱觀他的一生，他從來沒有為自己爭取過什麼。他只是完全順服聽命，因此神大大的使用它，在聖經上留下了顯赫的名聲，為後世人所紀念。我們也許沒有他那樣的恩賜，但只要我們能夠像他一樣順服聽命，我們一樣能夠為神所用。就算以後沒有人記念，但神一定會紀念我們。還有什麼比這更榮耀的事呢？
『下到巴蘭的曠野』
隱基底既然不再適於藏身，大衛就決定離開那裡，躲到別的地方去。這裡說大衛從隱基底來到了巴蘭的曠野。巴蘭的曠野在七十士譯本作瑪雲的曠野。本章以後所發生的事情，基本上都是在瑪雲曠野附近。至於巴蘭的曠野是在猶大曠野的南方，靠近西乃半島（參地圖2）。如果大衛他們是在巴蘭的曠野，就不太可能跑到瑪雲的曠野（迦密，25:7，參地圖1），去守護拿八的僕人。因此我個人比較同意70士譯本的說法。
2『在瑪雲有一個人，他的產業在迦密』
產業也可以翻成生意（business）。換句話說他家裡是在瑪雲，可是他是在迦密做生意。瑪雲和迦密兩地相距不到2公里，走路不到半小時。
『三千綿羊，一千山羊』
羊在古時的中東地區可能是最重要的財產，一個人的財力往往以他所擁有的牲畜來衡量。在當時來說，4000隻羊是一個非常雄厚的產業了。當然跟約伯相比的話，還是差了一些。當時約伯的家產極其龐大：伯1:3 他的家產有七千羊，三千駱駝，五百對牛，五百母驢，並有許多僕婢。
『他正在迦密剪羊毛』
羊群是他們的重要資產：羊肉可吃，羊奶可喝，羊毛可剪。換句話說羊是他們的主要的生產工具。因此剪羊毛是當時的一件大事，就好像農村裡的收割季節，牧場上也是歡慶，感謝神的恩典。富有的人家宴客，慷慨施捨給周圍貧困的人。所以當時在迦密應該也有這樣的歡慶活動。參撒下13:23。
3『那人名叫拿八，是迦勒族的人』
拿八的意思就是愚頑，後來發生的事證明他人如其名。他是迦勒的後代，迦勒是當時跟約書亞一起去窺探迦南地的12個探子裡面的猶大支派的代表。最後只有他跟約書亞進入了迦南地。參民書記13-14章。我們中國人通常取名字的時候都有特別的意思，大部分都是希望將來的子女能夠出人頭地，或是能夠光宗耀祖。我們希望我們的人生能夠像我們的名字一樣相符嗎？只要靠著我們的主耶穌，我相信不但我們能夠人如其名，甚至遠遠超過名字所代表的意義。
『剛愎凶惡harsh and evil』
就是嚴苛邪惡的意思。換句話說，拿八是一個卑鄙的人。
5『提我的名』
意 即他們乃是轉達大衛所說的話，不是出於自己。第九節同義。
6『願你平安』
原文在前面有Long life to you，即願你長壽又平安。就好像我們今天祝福別人的時候，常常說『多福多壽』，是同樣的意思。
7『和我們在一處…欺負（mistreat, harm）他們』
欺負就是惡待或是傷害的意思。和我們在一處（your shepherds have been with us）這句話似乎是表示大衛的手下和拿八的牧人經常在一處，大衛的人並沒有因為人多勢
戰，豈不也應該要常常裝備操練自己，成為一個訓練有素的軍隊嗎？
8『所以願我的僕人在你眼前蒙恩，因為是在好日子來的』 『好日子』在許多的英文譯本裡面都翻成festive day，意即節期的日子。就如我們在第2節所說的，剪羊毛的日子就好像是節期的日子一樣，在牧場上大家一起慶祝。富有的人家宴客，施捨給貧困的人。所以大衛說『願我的僕人在你眼前蒙恩』，就是希望拿八按照一般的習俗，能夠拿些物品賜與大衛他們。大衛甚至自稱為『你兒子』，可以說把姿態擺的非常卑微，完全沒有以勢壓人的意思。
撒母耳的去世有什麼特別的意義？他對以色列人有什麼貢獻？
他的人品和人格怎樣？神為什麼大大的使用他？有什麼我們可以效法的？
大衛為什麼下到巴蘭（或瑪雲）的曠野？為什麼瑪雲的曠野比較合理？
剪羊毛有什麼特別？當時的習俗是什麼？
拿八是怎樣的一個人？他的名字是什麼意思？我的名字有什麼特別的意義嗎？
大衛的手下和拿八的牧人是如何相處的？大衛的軍隊是怎樣的一個軍隊？
大衛為什麼會來向拿八求取贈與？他的態度如何？
II. 拿八辱大衛（9-13）
25:9 大衛的僕人到了，將這話提大衛的名都告訴了拿八，就住了口。
25:10 拿八回答大衛的僕人說：「大衛是誰？耶西的兒子是誰？近來悖逆主人奔逃的僕人甚多，
25:11 我豈可將飲食和為我剪羊毛人所宰的肉給我不知道從哪裏來的人呢？」
25:12 大衛的僕人就轉身從原路回去，照這話告訴大衛。
25:13 大衛向跟隨他的人說：「你們各人都要帶上刀！」眾人就都帶上刀，大衛也帶上刀。跟隨大衛上去的約有四百人，留下二百人看守器具。
9『就住了口』
英文譯文為『就等著waited』，即等著拿八的回答。
10『大衛是誰？耶西的兒子是誰？』
只看這兩句話的話，我們不知道拿八是否真的不認識大衛。如果是的話，那他拒絕大衛的要求還算有道理。然而從底下的說話當中，我們可以看出他不但知道大衛是誰，也很清楚知道大衛跟掃羅之間的關係。他說『近來悖逆主人奔逃的僕人甚多』，也就是說他知道大衛已經離開了掃羅，甚至有可能也知道大衛被掃羅追殺。因為他說大衛是悖逆主人而逃走的奴僕。這裡僕人原意是奴隸的意思，換句話說，他認為大衛原是掃羅的奴隸，然後背叛了主人而逃走。這是一個極大的侮辱。他既然知道大衛，必定也知道大衛乃是帶領以色列軍隊出入的，並不是掃羅的奴隸。
11『不知道從哪裏來的人』
他既然知道大衛，卻說不知道大衛從哪裡來，這是極度的藐視。他完全沒有把大衛放在眼裡，隨意地藐視辱罵。他難道不怕大衛過來報復他嗎？難怪大衛會憤怒。
拿八是愚頑人，而聖經對愚頑人的描述就是『詩14:1愚頑人心裡說：沒有神』。一個心裡沒有神的人，目中也就無人。參路18:2 說：某城裏有一個官，不懼怕神，也不尊重世人。
13『你們各人都要帶上刀』
因此大衛決定要去找他算賬。他要手下都帶上刀，就像當初去攻打非利士人一樣。他是把拿八當成仇敵了。如果拿八自己勢力強盛，能夠對抗大衛的話，倒也無話可說。可是從以後的記載我們可以看到。拿八這個人根本就是一個醉生夢死的人，完全沒有危機意識。因此我們很難想像，拿八憑什麼敢這樣藐視侮辱大衛。也許就像西方的諺語所說的『神要毀滅一個人之前，必先使他瘋狂』吧！
而大衛憤怒之下要去大開殺戒，並不是神的旨意，而是他自己衝動之餘所作的決定。因為後來亞比該對他說：『25:26耶和華既然阻止你親手報仇，取流血的罪』，他自己也承認『25:33因為你今日攔阻我親手報仇、流人的血』。因此人在憤怒之下最好不要做什麼重要的決定，因為那時他的內心完全被感情（怒氣）所支配，不太可能經過理智的思考，更不用說尋求神的旨意了。
大衛一向的表現都是很柔和謙卑，甚至在可以殺掃羅的時候也沒有下手。然而在這裡也讓我們看到人都是軟弱的。很多時候我們沒有跌倒，是因為我們遭遇的試探不夠大。如今拿八這樣的侮辱大衛，讓大衛怒氣填膺，決定要去殺人報仇。若不是亞比該的攔阻，大衛就犯了殺人流血的罪了。所以我們要特別謹慎，千萬不要自高自滿，覺得自己站立得穩，不會跌倒。當一個人有這樣的想法的時候，就是馬上要跌倒的時候了。參林前10:12 所以，自己以為站得穩的，須要謹慎，免得跌倒。我們要常常提醒自己，若不是神的恩典與保守，我們隨時都可能跌倒犯罪。所以我們要緊緊的倚靠神，順服聖靈的帶領，才能夠在屬靈的道路上面不斷地成長。
拿八真的不知道大衛嗎？從何得知？
他怎麼樣侮辱大衛？他認為大衛的身份是什麼？
你覺得拿八這樣子目中無人，根本的原因是什麼？對我們有什麼警惕？
如果有人這樣侮辱你，你的感覺如何？你會如何反應？ 大衛的反應是什麼？他這樣的反應是對的嗎？怎麼知道？
大衛平常的表現如何？從哪裡可以證明？這一次為什麼反應這樣激烈？ 從這件事上我們可以學到什麼教訓？可以怎樣應用在我的生活上？
III. 亞比該籌劃勸解大衛（9-14）
25:14 有拿八的一個僕人告訴拿八的妻亞比該說：「大衛從曠野打發使者來問我主人的安，主人卻辱罵他們。
25:15 但是那些人待我們甚好；我們在田野與他們來往的時候，沒有受他們的欺負，也未曾失落甚麼。
25:16 我們在他們那裏牧羊的時候，他們晝夜作我們的保障。
25:17 所以你當籌劃，看怎樣行才好；不然禍患定要臨到我主人和他全家。他性情凶暴，無人敢與他說話。」
25:18 亞比該急忙將二百餅，兩皮袋酒，五隻收拾好了的羊，五細亞烘好了的穗子，一百葡萄餅，二百無花果餅，都馱在驢上，
25:19 對僕人說：「你們前頭走，我隨着你們去。」這事她卻沒有告訴丈夫拿八。
25:20 亞比該騎着驢，正下山坡，見大衛和跟隨他的人從對面下來，亞比該就迎接他們。
14『問我主人的安，主人卻辱罵他們』
問安有祝福的意思，而辱罵（hurled insults）就是極力侮辱。這是一個很強烈的對比。拿八所做的就是典型的以惡報善。前面說他剛愎凶惡，從這裡就可以很明顯的看出來。一個人來向你問安，你不但不領情，還隨意地侮辱別人，這個人的人品如何就可想而知了。
15『那些人待我們甚好』
這是拿八的牧人親口作證，大衛的手下如何對待他們。所以大衛並不是無緣無故的去向拿八要求好處，他也是付出了相應的代價。
16『作我們的保障（a wall to us）』
保障原來的意思是牆垣。換句話說，大衛他們在曠野與這些牧人相處的時候，就像牆一樣的保護他們，讓他們不至於受到盜賊和野獸的傷害。而且我們也看不出來大衛他們這樣做，是為了將來要得到什麼報答。拿八的牧人們也沒有要求大衛他們這樣做，他們只是純粹的愛護同胞兄弟，主動做到守望相助。我們今天可以學習他們，看見弟兄姊妹們有難處的時候，就應該主動的去幫助，真正做到愛人如己的地步。
17『不然禍患定要臨到』
『不然』更好的翻譯是『因為because』。換句話說，連他的僕人都看得出來，拿八這樣的做法必定會激怒大衛，因此大衛的報復很快就會來到，以至於全家都會遭災。如此簡單的事實拿八居然不知道，或者是不在乎，也難怪沒有好下場。
『性情凶暴，無人敢與他說話』
性情凶暴（wicked, worthless）就是邪惡，無用的意思。當年以利的兩個兒子作祭司的時候，聖經就用這個字描寫他們，稱他們是惡人。拿八就是這種人。一個如此的惡人居然
這樣富有，實在讓人嘖嘖稱奇。以他的人品來看，想必是用了不少強迫欺壓的手段才獲取了這些財富。然而從他的結局來看，他這些累積的財富最後成了別人的嫁妝。當他死後，他的妻子亞比該改嫁給大衛，這些財富自然也就歸於大衛家了。參箴13:11善人給子孫遺留產業；罪人為義人積存資財。28:8人以厚利加增財物，是給那憐憫窮人者積蓄的。
18『急忙將二百餅，兩皮袋酒，五隻收拾好了的羊，五細亞烘好了的穗子，一百葡萄餅，二百無花果餅…』
能夠在短短的時間裡面，準備了這麼多的食物，所需要的人力物力可想而知。從這裡也可以證明拿八他的財力有多豐富。
19『沒有告訴丈夫拿八』
由前面僕人所說的『拿八性情凶暴，無人敢與他說話』，可見如果亞比該告訴拿八的話，拿八一定反對。因此亞比該很明智的私下做了決定，自己單獨去向大衛求情。
20『山坡』
山坡（under cover/by the hidden part）可能是山下一條隱秘的通道。亞比該大概料到大衛會從這地方來找拿八，因此沿著這條通道去迎見大衛。
拿八這樣做會有什麼後果？為什麼他自己看不出來？
一個性情兇暴的人會遭遇什麼結局？我的親友當中有人敢跟我說實話嗎？
是這些牧人要求大衛他們保護嗎？大衛他們為什麼要去幫助這些牧人？
從這件事情我們可以學到什麼功課？我們應該如何幫助弟兄姊妹？
今天的查經對我有什麼幫助？我願意在未來一週做出什麼改變嗎？
25:1 撒母耳死了，以色列眾人聚集，為他哀哭，將他葬在拉瑪他自己的墳墓裏。大衛起身，下到巴蘭的曠野。
25:2 在瑪雲有一個人，他的產業在迦密，是一個大富戶，有三千綿羊，一千山羊；他正在迦密剪羊毛。
25:3 那人名叫拿八，是迦勒族的人；他的妻名叫亞比該，是聰明俊美的婦人。拿八為人剛愎凶惡。
25:4 大衛在曠野聽見說拿八剪羊毛，
25:5 大衛就打發十個僕人，吩咐他們說：「你們上迦密去見拿八，提我的名問他安。
25:6 要對那富戶如此說：『願你平安，願你家平安，願你一切所有的都平安。
25:7 現在我聽說有人為你剪羊毛，你的牧人在迦密的時候和我們在一處，我們沒有欺負他們，他們也未曾失落甚麼。
25:8 可以問你的僕人，他們必告訴你。所以願我的僕人在你眼前蒙恩，因為是在好日子來的。求你隨手取點賜與僕人和你兒子大衛。』」
25:9 大衛的僕人到了，將這話提大衛的名都告訴了拿八，就住了口。
25:10 拿八回答大衛的僕人說：「大衛是誰？耶西的兒子是誰？近來悖逆主人奔逃的僕人甚多，
25:11 我豈可將飲食和為我剪羊毛人所宰的肉給我不知道從哪裏來的人呢？」
25:12 大衛的僕人就轉身從原路回去，照這話告訴大衛。
25:13 大衛向跟隨他的人說：「你們各人都要帶上刀！」眾人就都帶上刀，大衛也帶上刀。跟隨大衛上去的約有四百人，留下二百人看守器具。
25:14 有拿八的一個僕人告訴拿八的妻亞比該說：「大衛從曠野打發使者來問我主人的安，主人卻辱罵他們。
25:15 但是那些人待我們甚好；我們在田野與他們來往的時候，沒有受他們的欺負，也未曾失落甚麼。
25:16 我們在他們那裏牧羊的時候，他們晝夜作我們的保障。
25:17 所以你當籌劃，看怎樣行才好；不然，禍患定要臨到我主人和他全家。他性情凶暴，無人敢與他說話。」
25:18 亞比該急忙將二百餅，兩皮袋酒，五隻收拾好了的羊，五細亞烘好了的穗子，一百葡萄餅，二百無花果餅，都馱在驢上，
25:19 對僕人說：「你們前頭走，我隨着你們去。」這事她卻沒有告訴丈夫拿八。
25:20 亞比該騎着驢，正下山坡，見大衛和跟隨他的人從對面下來，亞比該就迎接他們。
NIV
1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.[a]
2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
3 His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.
5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name.
6 Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
7 “‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing.
8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.’”
9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.
10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.
11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
12 David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word.
13 David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them.
15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing.
16 Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them.
17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”
18 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs[b] of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.
19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them.
Footnotes
a. 1 Samuel 25:1 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts Maon
b. 1 Samuel 25:18 That is, probably about 60 pounds or about 27 kilograms
ESV
1 Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2 And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite.
4 David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
5 So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name.
6 And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
7 I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel.
8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited.
10 And Nabal answered David's servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.
11 Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”
12 So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this.
13 And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them.
15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them.
16 They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.”
18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs[a] of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.
19 And she said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.
Footnotes
a. 1 Samuel 25:18 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters
NASB
1 Then Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him at his house in Ramah. And David set out and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel; and the man was very [a]rich, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And it came about while he was shearing his sheep in Carmel
3 (now the man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. And the woman was [b]intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings, and he was a Calebite),
4 that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
5 So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel and [c]visit Nabal, and greet him in my name;
6 and this is what you shall say: ‘[d]Have a long life, peace to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!
7 Now then, I have heard that you have shearers. Now, your shepherds have been with us; we have not harmed them, nor has anything of theirs gone missing all the days they were in Carmel.
8 Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a [e]festive day. Please give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal in accordance with all these words in David’s name; then they waited.
10 But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.
11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men [f]whose origin I do not know?”
12 So David’s young men made their way back and returned; and they came and informed him in accordance with all these words.
13 Then David said to his men, “Each of you strap on his sword.” So each man strapped on his sword. And David also strapped on his sword, and about four hundred men went up behind David, while two hundred stayed with the baggage.
14 Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to [g]greet our master, and he spoke to them in anger.
15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we were not harmed, nor did anything go missing [h]as long as we went with them, while we were in the fields.
16 They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the time we were with them tending the sheep.
17 Now then, be aware and [i]consider what you should do, because harm is plotted against our master and against all his household; and he is such a [j]worthless man that no one can speak to him.”
18 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread and two jugs of wine, and five sheep already prepared and five measures of roasted grain, and a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and she loaded them on donkeys.
19 Then she said to her young men, “Go on ahead of me; behold, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 And it happened as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them.
Footnotes
a. 1 Samuel 25:2 Lit great
b. 1 Samuel 25:3 Lit of good understanding
c. 1 Samuel 25:5 Lit come to
d. 1 Samuel 25:6 Lit To life
e. 1 Samuel 25:8 Lit good
f. 1 Samuel 25:11 Lit from where they are
g. 1 Samuel 25:14 Lit bless
h. 1 Samuel 25:15 Lit all the days
i. 1 Samuel 25:17 Lit see
j. 1 Samuel 25:17 Lit son of Belial