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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/25.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/25.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/25.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/25.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/25.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/25.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/25.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/25.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/25.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/25.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/25.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/25.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/25.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/25.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/25.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/25.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />One day, Nabal was in Carmel where his servants were cutting the wool from his sheep. David was in the desert when he heard about it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/25.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/25.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/25.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />and David, who was in the wilderness, heard about it, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/25.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/25.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/25.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/25.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/25.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/25.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/25.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And David hears in the wilderness that Nabal is shearing his flock,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/25.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And David heareth in the wilderness that Nabal is shearing his flock,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/25.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And David will hear in the desert that Nabal sheared his sheep.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/25.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And when David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/25.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Therefore, when David, in the desert, had heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/25.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />While in the wilderness, David heard that Nabal was shearing his flock,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/25.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/25.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/25.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal sheared his sheep<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/25.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/25.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal the Carmelite was shearing his sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/25-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=7328" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/25.htm">David, Nabal, and Abigail</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>His 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. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1732.htm" title="1732: dā·wiḏ (N-proper-ms) -- Perhaps beloved one, a son of Jesse. Rarely; Daviyd; from the same as dowd; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.">While David</a> <a href="/hebrew/4057.htm" title="4057: bam·miḏ·bār (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">was in the wilderness,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: way·yiš·ma‘ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">he heard</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/5037.htm" title="5037: nā·ḇāl (N-proper-ms) -- A man of Carmel. The same as nabal; dolt; Nabal, an Israelite.">Nabal</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1494.htm" title="1494: ḡō·zêz (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To shear. A primitive root; to cut off; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy.">was shearing</a> <a href="/hebrew/6629.htm" title="6629: ṣō·nōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock. Or tsaown; from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock; also figuratively.">sheep.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/16-11.htm">1 Samuel 16:11</a></span><br />And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/23-15.htm">1 Samuel 23:15-18</a></span><br />While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. / And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, / saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/30-26.htm">1 Samuel 30:26-31</a></span><br />When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” / He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; / to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/2-1.htm">2 Samuel 2:1-4</a></span><br />Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD. / So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. / David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/16-1.htm">2 Samuel 16:1-2</a></span><br />When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. / “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/4-8.htm">2 Kings 4:8-10</a></span><br />One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. / Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. / Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/4-42.htm">2 Kings 4:42-44</a></span><br />Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/6-23.htm">2 Kings 6:23</a></span><br />So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/12-18.htm">1 Chronicles 12:18</a></span><br />Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/8-10.htm">Nehemiah 8:10</a></span><br />Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/1-13.htm">Job 1:13-15</a></span><br />One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, / a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, / the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/23-5.htm">Psalm 23:5</a></span><br />You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/3-27.htm">Proverbs 3:27-28</a></span><br />Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. / Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/25-21.htm">Proverbs 25:21-22</a></span><br />If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/32-8.htm">Isaiah 32:8</a></span><br />But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.</p><p class="hdg">did shear</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/38-13.htm">Genesis 38:13</a></b></br> And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/13-23.htm">2 Samuel 13:23</a></b></br> And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which <i>is</i> beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/25-2.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-1.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-1.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-25.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-6.htm">Heareth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-3.htm">Nabal</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/15-19.htm">Shear</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-2.htm">Shearing</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-2.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-1.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-1.htm">Wilderness</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-2.htm">Wool</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-25.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/31-9.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-5.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-14.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-7.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-28.htm">Heareth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-5.htm">Nabal</a> <a href="/genesis/31-19.htm">Shear</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-12.htm">Shearing</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-7.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-14.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-14.htm">Wilderness</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-23.htm">Wool</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-7.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 25</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-1.htm">Samuel dies</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-2.htm">David in Paran sends to Nabal</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-10.htm">Provoked by Nabal's rudeness, he minds to destroy him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-14.htm">Abigail understanding thereof</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-18.htm">takes a present</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-23.htm">and by her wisdom</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-32.htm">pacifies David</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-36.htm">Nabal hearing thereof, dies</a></span><br><span class="reftext">39. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-39.htm">David takes Abigail and Ahinoam to be his wives</a></span><br><span class="reftext">44. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/25-44.htm">Michal is given to Phalti</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/25.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/25.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>While David was in the wilderness</b><br>David's time in the wilderness was a period of refuge and preparation. After fleeing from King Saul, David and his men found themselves in the wilderness of Paran, a desolate area that provided both challenges and protection. This wilderness experience is reminiscent of other biblical figures, such as Moses and the Israelites, who also spent significant time in the wilderness. It was a place of testing and reliance on God, shaping David's character and leadership. The wilderness symbolizes a place of spiritual growth and dependence on God's provision.<p><b>he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep</b><br>Sheep shearing was a significant event in ancient Israel, marking a time of festivity and abundance. It was customary for landowners to celebrate the shearing season with feasts, as it was a time of economic gain. Nabal, whose name means "fool," was a wealthy man from Maon, and his sheep-shearing event would have been a large and notable occasion. This context sets the stage for the interaction between David and Nabal, highlighting the cultural expectations of hospitality and generosity during such times. The mention of sheep shearing connects to other biblical narratives where sheep and shepherding play crucial roles, such as in the life of Jacob and the parable of the Good Shepherd, pointing to themes of provision and care.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel, and at this time, a fugitive from King Saul. He is in the wilderness, leading a group of men.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/n/nabal.htm">Nabal</a></b><br>A wealthy but foolish man from Maon, known for his harsh and surly behavior. His name means "fool" in Hebrew, which is significant in understanding his character.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/w/wilderness.htm">Wilderness</a></b><br>The region where David and his men are hiding. It represents a place of testing and reliance on God for David.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/sheep_shearing.htm">Sheep Shearing</a></b><br>A time of festivity and celebration in ancient Israel, often associated with feasting and generosity. It is during this event that David seeks provisions from Nabal.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/carmel.htm">Carmel</a></b><br>The location where Nabal's sheep shearing takes place. It is a place of abundance and prosperity, contrasting with David's wilderness experience.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_in_the_wilderness.htm">God's Provision in the Wilderness</a></b><br>David's time in the wilderness teaches us to trust in God's provision even in difficult circumstances. Like David, we may find ourselves in "wilderness" seasons where reliance on God is crucial.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_generosity.htm">The Importance of Generosity</a></b><br>Nabal's refusal to share his abundance during a time of celebration highlights the importance of generosity. As Christians, we are called to be generous, especially when we have been blessed with abundance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/wisdom_vs._foolishness.htm">Wisdom vs. Foolishness</a></b><br>Nabal's name and actions serve as a reminder of the biblical theme of wisdom versus foolishness. We are encouraged to seek wisdom from God and avoid the pitfalls of foolish behavior.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/responding_to_insults_with_grace.htm">Responding to Insults with Grace</a></b><br>David's initial response to Nabal's insult was anger, but Abigail's intervention teaches us the value of responding with grace and seeking peaceful resolutions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_25.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 25</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_nabal,_abigail,_estate.htm">1 Samuel 25:3 – Is there any historical or archaeological evidence confirming Nabal, Abigail, or their estate’s existence? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_142_4_align_with_1_sam_22_2.htm">Psalm 142:4 shows David claiming no one cares for him--how does this reconcile with 1 Samuel 22:2, where he has loyal followers?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_david_anointed_again_in_2_samuel.htm">In 2 Samuel 2:4, why is David anointed again when he was already anointed in 1 Samuel 16:13?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_david's_600-man_force.htm">What archaeological or historical evidence supports the existence of David's 600-man force (1 Samuel 23:13) during a time of limited resources and political instability?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/25.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">And David heard in the wilderness.</span>--The question of the support of the large band of devoted followers who obeyed David must have been usually a very anxious one. No doubt, contributions from the farmers and sheep-masters materially aided the supplies David and his men derived from their raids across the Philistine borders. It is likely enough that some of these contributions were not always willingly made; still, there is no doubt that the presence of the armed band of David during the latter years of Saul afforded considerable protection to the border land. His position resembled that of a modern Arab sheik of a friendly Bedaween tribe, and it is clear that on the whole his career as head of an army of free lances tended to popularise him among the southern tribes of Israel. Nabal's conduct appears to have been more than churlish and foolish, for David, according to the showing of Nabal's own shepherds, had on many occasions been of substantial service to them as they tended their flocks in exposed and dangerous localities. The testimony of these shepherd folk may be accepted generally as the popular estimate of David and his acts during this rough and sorely tried period of his life.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/25.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 4, 5.</span> - Though David had gone some distance southward of Carmel, yet it was worth his while to send men to Nabal's sheep shearing, as the maintenance of his numerous force must have been a continual difficulty. The large number, <span class="cmt_word">ten</span>, also shows that he expected a liberal gift of food. Probably such missions were not uncommon, and the large sheep masters were glad to supply the wants of one who guarded their flocks and defended them from the incursions of the desert tribes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/25-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">While David</span><br /><span class="heb">דָּוִ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(dā·wiḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1732.htm">Strong's 1732: </a> </span><span class="str2">David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was in the wilderness,</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר</span> <span class="translit">(bam·miḏ·bār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pasture, a desert, speech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he heard</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·ma‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hear intelligently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Nabal</span><br /><span class="heb">נָבָ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ḇāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5037.htm">Strong's 5037: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nabal -- a man of Carmel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was shearing</span><br /><span class="heb">גֹזֵ֥ז</span> <span class="translit">(ḡō·zêz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1494.htm">Strong's 1494: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut off, to shear a, flock, shave the hair, to destroy an enemy</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sheep.</span><br /><span class="heb">צֹאנֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṣō·nōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6629.htm">Strong's 6629: </a> </span><span class="str2">Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/25-4.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 25:4 David heard in the wilderness that Nabal (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/25-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 25:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 25:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/25-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 25:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 25:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>