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1 Samuel 25

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 25 of 31

1 And Samuel died, and all Israel was gathered, and mourned for him. And they buried him in his house, in Ramah. And David rose up and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2 And a certain man was in Maon, and his work was in Carmel. And the man was very great, and there were three thousand sheep and a thousand goats to him. And he was shearing his flock in Carmel.

3 And the man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name, Abigail. And the woman was of good understanding, and beautiful of form. And the man was hard and evil in his dealings. And he was of Caleb.

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Chapter Summary

Samuel dies. David sends to Nabal. Provoked by Nabal's ungratefulness, he intends to destroy him. Abigail understands and takes a present, and by her wisdom she pacifies David. Nabal dies. David takes Abigail as his second wife.

Key Hebrew Words

שֵׂ֫כֶל good understanding H7922 · TWOT 2263a
בְּלִיַּ֫עַל worthlessness H1100 · TWOT 246g
נְבָלָה folly, senselessness H5039 · TWOT 1285b
דָּם blood, bloodguilt H1818 · TWOT 436
בְּרָכָה blessing, gift H1293 · TWOT 285b
חֶרְפָּה reproach H2781 · TWOT 749a

People & Context

David

Sends to Nabal for provisions, sets out to kill him in vengeance, is turned back by Abigail, and later takes her as wife

Abigail

Nabal's wise and beautiful wife who intercepts David with gifts, restrains him from bloodshed, and becomes his wife

Nabal

Wealthy, harsh Calebite of Maon who scorns David's request, then dies after Jehovah strikes him

Samuel

The prophet whose death and burial at Ramah opens the chapter; all Israel mourns him

Saul

King who gives David's wife Michal to Phalti son of Laish

Ahinoam

Woman of Jezreel whom David had taken; she and Abigail both become his wives

Timeline

The Death of Samuel

Samuel dies, and all Israel gathers to mourn him, burying him at his house in Ramah. David then moves to the wilderness of Paran.

1 Samuel 25:1
Introduction of Nabal and Abigail

A wealthy but harsh man named Nabal, married to the wise and beautiful Abigail, is shearing his thousands of sheep in Carmel.

1 Samuel 25:2-3
David Sends Messengers to Nabal

David sends ten young men to politely ask Nabal for provisions, reminding him that David's men had protected Nabal's shepherds in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 25:4-9

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Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

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