1 Samuel 25 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Samuel’s Death

1 Then Samuel ^H8050 died ^H4191; and all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 assembled ^H6908 and mourned ^H5594 for him, and they buried ^H6912 him at his house ^H1004 in Ramah ^H7414. And David ^H1732 set ^H6965 out ^H6965 and went ^H3381 down ^H3381 to the wilderness ^H4057 of Paran ^H6290.

Nabal and Abigail

2 Now there was a man ^H376 in Maon ^H4584 whose business ^H4639 was in Carmel ^H3760; and the man ^H376 was very ^H3966 [fn]rich ^H1419, and he had three ^H7969 thousand ^H505 sheep ^H6629 and a thousand ^H505 goats ^H5795. And it came ^H1961 about ^H1961 while he was shearing ^H1494 his sheep ^H6629 in Carmel ^H3760

3 (now the man’s ^H376 name ^H8034 was Nabal ^H5037, and his wife’s ^H802 name ^H8034 was Abigail ^H26. And the woman ^H802 was [fn]intelligent ^H2896 H7922 and beautiful ^H3303 in appearance ^H8389, but the man ^H376 was harsh ^H7186 and evil ^H7451 in his dealings ^H4611, and he was a Calebite ^H3614), 4 that David ^H1732 heard ^H8085 in the wilderness ^H4057 that Nabal ^H5037 was shearing ^H1494 his sheep ^H6629. 5 So David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 ten ^H6235 young ^H5288 men ^H5288; and David ^H1732 said ^H559 to the young ^H5288 men ^H5288, “Go ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Carmel ^H3760 and [fn]visit ^H935 H413 Nabal ^H5037, and greet ^H7592 H7965 him in my name ^H8034; 6 and this ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 you shall say ^H559: ‘[fn]Have a long life ^H2416, peace ^H7965 to you, and peace ^H7965 to your house ^H1004, and peace ^H7965 to all ^H3605 that you have! 7 Now ^H6258 then, I have heard ^H8085 that you have shearers ^H1494. Now ^H6258, your shepherds ^H7462 have been ^H1961 with us; we have not harmed ^H3637 them, nor ^H3808 has anything ^H3972 of theirs gone ^H6485 missing ^H6485 all ^H3605 the days ^H3117 they were in Carmel ^H3760. 8 Ask ^H7592 your young ^H5288 men ^H5288 and they will tell ^H5046 you. Therefore let my young ^H5288 men ^H5288 find ^H4672 favor ^H2580 in your eyes ^H5869, for we have come ^H935 on a [fn]festive ^H2896 day ^H3117. Please ^H4994 give ^H5414 whatever ^H834 you find ^H4672 at hand ^H3027 to your servants ^H5650 and to your son ^H1121 David ^H1732.’”

9 When David’s ^H1732 young ^H5288 men ^H5288 came ^H935, they spoke ^H1696 to Nabal ^H5037 in accordance with all ^H3605 these ^H428 words ^H1697 in David’s ^H1732 name ^H8034; then they waited ^H5117. 10 But Nabal ^H5037 answered ^H6030 David’s ^H1732 servants ^H5650 and said ^H559, “Who ^H4310 is David ^H1732? And who ^H4310 is the son ^H1121 of Jesse ^H3448? There are ^H7231 many ^H7231 servants ^H5650 today ^H3117 who are each ^H376 breaking ^H6555 away ^H6555 from his master ^H113. 11 Shall I then take ^H3947 my bread ^H3899 and my water ^H4325 and my meat ^H2878 that I have slaughtered ^H2873 for my shearers ^H1494, and give ^H5414 it to men ^H376 [fn]whose ^H834 origin ^{H4480 H2088 H335} I do not know ^H3045?” 12 So David’s ^H1732 young ^H5288 men ^H5288 made ^H2015 their way ^H1870 back ^H2015 and returned ^H7725; and they came ^H935 and informed ^H5046 him in accordance with all ^H3605 these ^H428 words ^H1697. 13 Then David ^H1732 said ^H559 to his men ^H376, “Each ^H376 of you strap ^H2296 on ^H2296 his sword ^H2719.” So each ^H376 man ^H376 strapped ^H2296 on ^H2296 his sword ^H2719. And David ^H1732 also ^H1571 strapped ^H2296 on ^H2296 his sword ^H2719, and about four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 behind ^H310 David ^H1732, while two hundred ^H3967 stayed ^H3427 with the baggage ^H3627.

14 Now one ^H259 of the young ^H5288 men ^H5288 told ^H5046 Abigail ^H26, Nabal’s ^H5037 wife ^H802, saying ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 from the wilderness ^H4057 to [fn]greet ^H1288 our master ^H113, and he spoke ^H5860 to them in ^H5860 anger ^H5860. 15 Yet the men ^H376 were very ^H3966 good ^H2896 to us, and we were not harmed ^H3637, nor ^H3808 did anything ^H3972 go ^H6485 missing ^H6485 [fn]as ^H3605 H3117 long ^H3605 H3117 as we went ^H1980 with them, while we were in the fields ^H7704. 16 They were a wall ^H2346 to us both ^H1571 by night ^H3915 and by day ^H3119, all ^H3605 the time ^H3117 we were with them tending ^H7462 the sheep ^H6629. 17 Now ^H6258 then, be ^H3045 aware ^H3045 and [fn]consider ^H7200 what ^H4100 you should do ^H6213, because ^H3588 harm ^H7451 is plotted ^H3615 against ^H413 our master ^H113 and against ^H5921 all ^H3605 his household ^H1004; and he is such ^H4480 a [fn]worthless ^H1100 man ^H1121 that ^H4480 no ^H4480 one can speak ^H1696 to him.”

Abigail Intercedes

18 Then Abigail ^H26 hurried ^H4116 and took ^H3947 two hundred ^H3967 loaves of bread ^H3899 and two ^H8147 jugs ^H5035 of wine ^H3196, and five ^H2568 sheep ^H6629 already prepared ^H6213 and five ^H2568 measures ^H5429 of roasted ^H7039 grain ^H7039, and a hundred ^H3967 cakes ^H6778 of ^H6778 raisins ^H6778 and two hundred ^H3967 cakes ^H1690 of ^H1690 figs ^H1690, and she loaded ^H7760 them on donkeys ^H2543.

19 Then she said ^H559 to her young ^H5288 men ^H5288, “Go ^H5674 on ^H5674 ahead ^H6440 of me; behold ^H2009, I am coming ^H935 after ^H310 you.” But she did not tell ^H5046 her husband ^H376 Nabal ^H5037. 20 And it happened ^H1961 as she was riding ^H7392 on her donkey ^H2543 and coming ^H3381 down ^H3381 by the hidden ^H5643 part ^H5643 of the mountain ^H2022, that behold ^H2009, David ^H1732 and his men ^H376 were coming ^H3381 down ^H3381 toward ^H7122 her; so she met ^H6298 them. 21 Now David ^H1732 had said ^H559, “It is certainly ^H389 for nothing ^H8267 that I have guarded ^H8104 everything ^H3605 that this ^H2088 man has in the wilderness ^H4057, so that nothing ^H3808 H3972 has gone ^H6485 missing ^H6485 of all ^H3605 that belonged to him! For he has returned ^H7725 me evil ^H7451 for good ^H2896. 22 May God ^H430 do ^H6213 so ^H3541 to the enemies ^H340 of David ^H1732, and more ^H3254 so ^H3541, if ^H518 by morning ^H1242 I leave ^H7604 alive ^H7604 as much as one [fn]male ^H8366 H7023 of any ^H3605 who ^H834 belong to him.”

23 When Abigail ^H26 saw ^H7200 David ^H1732, she hurried ^H4116 and dismounted ^H3381 from her donkey ^H2543, and fell ^H5307 on her face ^H6440 in front ^H639 of David ^H1732 and bowed ^H2331 herself to the ground ^H776. 24 She fell ^H5307 at his feet ^H7272 and said ^H559, “On me [fn]alone ^H589, my lord ^H113, be the blame ^H5771. And please ^H4994 let your slave ^H519 speak ^H1696 [fn]to you, and listen ^H8085 to the words ^H1697 of your slave ^H519. 25 Please ^H4994 do not let my lord ^H113 [fn]pay ^H7760 attention ^H3820 to this ^H2088 [fn]worthless ^H1100 man ^H376, Nabal ^H5037, for as his name ^H8034 is, so ^H3651 is he. [fn]Nabal ^H5037 is his name ^H8034, and stupidity ^H5039 is with him; but I your slave ^H519 did not see ^H7200 the young ^H5288 men ^H5288 of my lord ^H113 whom ^H834 you sent ^H7971.

26 “Now ^H6258 then, my lord ^H113, as the LORD ^H3068 lives ^H2416, and as your soul ^H5315 lives ^H2416, since ^H834 the LORD ^H3068 has restrained ^H4513 you from [fn]shedding ^H935 blood ^H1818, and from [fn]avenging ^H3467 yourself by your own hand ^H3027, now ^H6258 then, may your enemies ^H340 and those who seek ^H1245 evil ^H7451 against ^H413 my lord ^H113, be like Nabal ^H5037. 27 And now ^H6258 let this ^H2088 [fn]gift ^H1293 which ^H834 your servant ^H8198 has brought ^H935 to my lord ^H113 be given ^H5414 to the young ^H5288 men ^H5288 who [fn]accompany ^H1980 H7272 my lord ^H113. 28 Please ^H4994 forgive ^H5375 the offense ^H6588 of your slave ^H519; for the LORD ^H3068 will certainly ^H6213 make ^H6213 for my lord ^H113 an [fn]enduring ^H539 house ^H1004, because ^H3588 my lord ^H113 is fighting ^H3898 the battles ^H4421 of the LORD ^H3068, and evil ^H7451 will not be found ^H4672 in you all ^H4480 your days ^H3117. 29 Should anyone ^H120 rise ^H6965 up ^H6965 to pursue ^H7291 you and to seek ^H1245 your [fn]life ^H5315, then the [fn]life ^H5315 of my lord ^H113 shall be bound ^H6887 in the bundle ^H6872 of the living ^H2416 with the LORD ^H3068 your God ^H430; but the [fn]lives ^H5315 of your enemies ^H340 He will sling ^H7049 out ^H7049 [fn]as from the hollow ^H3709 of a sling ^H7050. 30 And when ^H3588 the LORD ^H3068 does ^H6213 for my lord ^H3068 in accordance with all ^H3605 the good ^H2896 that He has spoken ^H1696 concerning ^H5921 you, and appoints ^H6680 you ruler ^H5057 over ^H5921 Israel ^H3478, 31 this ^H2088 will not become an obstacle ^H6330 to you, or a [fn]troubled ^H4383 heart ^H3820 to my lord ^H113, both by having shed ^H8210 blood ^H1818 without ^H2600 cause ^H2600 and by my lord’s ^H113 having [fn]avenged ^H3467 himself. When the LORD ^H3068 deals ^H3190 well ^H3190 with my lord ^H113, then remember ^H2142 your slave ^H519.”

32 Then David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Abigail ^H26, “Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478, who ^H834 sent ^H7971 you this ^H2088 day ^H3117 to meet ^H7122 me, 33 and blessed ^H1288 be your discernment ^H2940, and blessed ^H1288 be you, who ^H834 have kept ^H3607 me this ^H2088 day ^H3117 from [fn]bloodshed ^H935 H1818 and from [fn]avenging ^H3467 myself by my own hand ^H3027. 34 Nevertheless ^H199, as the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478 lives ^H2416, who ^H834 has restrained ^H4513 me from harming ^H7489 you, if ^H3588 H3884 you had not come ^H935 quickly ^H4116 to meet ^H7122 me, there certainly ^H3588 H518 would not have been left ^H3498 to Nabal ^H5037 until ^H5704 the morning ^H1242 light ^H216 as much as one [fn]male ^H8366 H7023.” 35 So David ^H1732 accepted ^H3947 from her hand ^H3027 what ^H834 she had brought ^H935 him, and said ^H559 to her, “Go ^H5927 up ^H5927 to your house ^H1004 in peace ^H7965. See ^H7200, I have listened ^H8085 to [fn]you and [fn]granted ^H5375 your request ^H6440.”

36 Then Abigail ^H26 came ^H935 to Nabal ^H5037, and behold ^H2009, he was having a feast ^H4960 in his house ^H1004, like the feast ^H4960 of a king ^H4428. And Nabal’s ^H5037 heart ^H3820 was cheerful ^H2895 within ^H5921 him, for he was very ^H5704 H3966 drunk ^H7910; so she did not tell ^H5046 him anything ^H1697 [fn]at all ^H6996 H1419 until ^H5704 the morning ^H1242 light ^H216. 37 But in the morning ^H1242, when the wine ^H3196 had gone ^H3318 out ^H3318 of Nabal ^H5037, his wife ^H802 told ^H5046 him these ^H428 things ^H1697, and his heart ^H3820 died ^H4191 within ^H7130 him so that he became ^H1961 like a stone ^H68. 38 About ten ^H6235 days ^H3117 later, the LORD ^H3068 struck ^H5062 Nabal ^H5037 and he died ^H4191.

David Marries Abigail

39 When David ^H1732 heard ^H8085 that Nabal ^H5037 was dead ^H4191, he said ^H559, “Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD ^H3068, who ^H834 has pleaded ^H7378 the cause ^H7379 of the shame ^H2781 inflicted ^H2781 on me by the hand ^H3027 of Nabal ^H5037, and has kept ^H2820 back ^H2820 His servant ^H5650 from evil ^H7451. The LORD ^H3068 has also returned ^H7725 the evildoing ^H7451 of Nabal ^H5037 on his own head ^H7218.” Then David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 [fn]a proposal ^H1696 to Abigail ^H26, to take ^H3947 her as his wife ^H802.

40 When the servants ^H5650 of David ^H1732 came ^H935 to Abigail ^H26 at Carmel ^H3760, they spoke ^H1696 to her, saying ^H559, “David ^H1732 has sent ^H7971 us to you to take ^H3947 you to him as his wife ^H802.” 41 And she got ^H6965 up ^H6965 and bowed ^H2331 with her face ^H639 to the ground ^H776, and said ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, your slave ^H519 is a servant ^H8198 to wash ^H7364 the feet ^H7272 of my lord’s ^H113 servants ^H5650.” 42 Then Abigail ^H26 got ^H6965 up ^H6965 quickly ^H4116, and rode ^H7392 on a donkey ^H2543, with her five ^H2568 female ^H5291 attendants ^H5291 who [fn]accompanied ^H1980 H7272 her; and she followed ^H1980 H310 the messengers ^H4397 of David ^H1732 and became ^H1961 his wife ^H802.

43 David ^H1732 had also taken ^H3947 Ahinoam ^H293 of Jezreel ^H3157, and they both ^H1571 H8147 became ^H1961 his wives ^H802.

44 But Saul ^H7586 had given ^H5414 his daughter ^H1323 Michal ^H4324, David’s ^H1732 wife ^H802, to Palti ^H6406 the son ^H1121 of Laish ^H3919, who ^H834 was from Gallim ^H1554.