25:1 Samuel died. The author begins the David-Nabal episode by noting David’s loss of Samuel, his chief protector in Israel (19:18–24), and ends it with a notation that David also loses his wife Michal, one of his protectors in the royal family itself (19:11–17). Meanwhile he obtains a wife whose wisdom rivals that of Ahithophel (2Sa 16:23). She is one of two wives who link him with the aristocracy of Judah. This account of how David obtained Nabal’s wife serves as a foil to the later account of how David obtained the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2Sa 11). There it is David who acts the fool. all Israel . . . mourned for him. Samuel was recognized as a leader of national prominence who played a key role in the restructuring of the theocracy with the establishment of the monarchy (chs. 8–12). The loss of his leadership was mourned much like that of other prominent figures in Israel’s past history, including Jacob (Ge 50:10), Aaron (Nu 20:29) and Moses (Dt 34:8). Ramah. See 7:17 and note on 1:1.
25:2 In ancient times wealth often consisted primarily of livestock (Ge 12:16; 13:2).
25:3 intelligent and beautiful . . . surly and mean. The stark contrast between the foolish Nabal and the wise Abigail is played out through the rest of the chapter. Calebite. A descendant of Caleb (Nu 14:24), who settled at Hebron (Jos 14:13) after the conquest of Canaan.
25:4 shearing sheep. A festive occasion (v. 8; 2Sa 13:23–24).
25:8 give . . . whatever you can find for them. David and his men ask for some consideration for their protection of Nabal’s shepherds and flocks against pillage (vv. 15–16,21).
25:10 son of Jesse. See note on 20:27,30–31.
25:17 wicked man. See note on Dt 13:13. no one can talk to him. In this way, too, Nabal is like Saul (cf., e.g., 20:27–33).
25:18 She took . . . bread . . . wine . . . sheep . . . grain . . . raisins . . . figs. A feast for a king. Cf. what Nabal had mentioned in v. 11.
25:22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely. See note on 3:17. David invokes a curse on himself if he should fail to kill every male in Nabal’s household and so obliterate Nabal’s family. Whole households were killed to cut off a man’s name and to prevent revenge killings.
25:24 Pardon your servant. Abigail begins her appeal to David on an apologetic note (she is not taking on herself the blame for Nabal’s action), as she does again when she begins the second half of her appeal (v. 28). Contrast Nabal’s high-handed treatment of David.
25:25 wicked man. See v. 17 and note on Dt 13:13. He is just like his name. In ancient times a person’s name was believed to reflect their nature and character.
25:26 as surely as the LORD . . . lives. See note on 14:39,45.
25:28 The LORD . . . will certainly make a lasting dynasty. While the idea that David was destined to become king in place of Saul may have spread among the general populace, Abigail’s assessment of David contrasts sharply with that of her husband (v. 10). you fight the LORD’s battles. Abigail is familiar with David’s victories over the Philistines, in which he sought to glorify the Lord rather than advance his own honor (17:26,45–47; 18:17). no wrongdoing will be found in you. See v. 39. Abigail shows concern for the preservation of David’s integrity in view of the office he was later to assume (vv. 30–31).
25:29 bound securely in the bundle of the living. Using the figure of placing a valuable possession in a carefully wrapped package for safekeeping, Abigail assures David that the Lord will preserve his life in the midst of danger. hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. A word that soon comes true for Nabal after he becomes “like a stone” (v. 37).
25:30 ruler. See note on 9:16.
25:31 needless bloodshed. See note on v. 28.
25:32–34 Cf. David’s words in vv. 21–22. His words there and here bracket the account of his meeting with Abigail and highlight the crucial role of wise Abigail’s actions.
25:32 who has sent you. David recognizes the providential leading of the Lord in his encounter with Abigail (v. 39).
25:33 your good judgment. See v. 3 and note.
25:36 holding a banquet. See Pr 30:21–22.
25:37 when Nabal was sober. The Hebrew expression contains a clever wordplay on Nabal’s name, which sounds very much like the Hebrew word for wineskin (as in v. 18). became like a stone. He was petrified with fear.
25:42 became his wife. She who acknowledged the Lord’s anointed came to share in his kingdom while her fool of a husband ended up a dead dog, a dead fool, an empty wineskin, a stone flung from a sling. He typifies all who reject the Lord’s anointed.
25:43 Ahinoam. The mother of David’s first son, Amnon (2Sa 3:2). Jezreel. Located near Carmel (v. 2; Jos 15:55–56) and not to be confused with the northern town of the same name, where Israel camped against the Philistines (29:1,11) and where Ahab resided in later times (1Ki 18:45–46; 21:1).
25:44 Michal, David’s wife. See 18:27.
26:1–25 Saul is at the mercy of David while sleeping in the midst of his army encampment (see notes on 23:1—26:25; 24:1—26:25; 24:1–22).
26:1 Ziphites. See 23:19; see also note on 23:14. Gibeah. The site of Saul’s royal residence (10:26).
26:2 Desert of Ziph. See 23:19; see also note on 23:14. three thousand. Apparently Saul’s standing army (24:2).
26:5 Abner. Saul’s cousin (14:50).
26:6 Ahimelek the Hittite. Hittites had long resided in Canaan (see note on Ge 10:15; see also Ge 15:20; 23:3–20; Dt 7:1; 20:17). Another Hittite in David’s service was Uriah (2Sa 11:6–7; 23:39). Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother. Zeruiah was David’s sister (1Ch 2:16), so Abishai and Joab (and their brother Asahel, 2Sa 2:18) were David’s nephews, as well as trusted military leaders. Joab would serve as the commander of his army for a long time.
26:8 delivered your enemy into your hands. See 24:4 and note. pin him to the ground with . . . the spear. Just as Saul had tried to pin David to the wall with his spear (18:11; 19:10).
26:9,11 lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. See note on 24:6.
26:10,16 As surely as the LORD lives. See note on 14:39,45.
26:12 David took the spear and water jug. In this way he sought to prove again to Saul that he did not seek his life. But he also showed Saul that God had given him the power to take away the spear with which Saul had often tried to kill him and the water jug on which Saul’s very life depended in the hot and dry Desert of Ziph.
26:19 may he accept an offering. David knows no reason why God should be angry with him; but if for some reason God is behind Saul’s determined effort to kill him, David appeals for God to accept an offering of appeasement (cf. 16:5)—in any event, to let the matter be settled between David and God without Saul’s involvement. may they be cursed before the LORD! David commits any such men to the judgment of God. the LORD’s inheritance. See note on 10:1. David appeals to Saul’s conscience by describing his present exclusion from the fellowship of God’s people and from living at peace in the Lord’s land. Go, serve other gods. In their view, to be expelled from the Lord’s land was to be separated from the Lord’s sanctuary (an OT form of excommunication) and left to serve the gods of whatever land in which one might settle (see Jos 22:24–27 and note on 1Ki 5:17).
26:20 look for a flea . . . hunts a partridge in the mountains. See 24:14. David suggests that Saul is making a fool of himself in his fanatical pursuit of an innocent man who poses no threat to him.
26:21 I have sinned. See 24:17. I have acted like a fool. The epitaph for Saul’s life: He confesses that his behavior has been not only unwise but also ungodly (see notes on 13:13; 25:2–44).
26:23 I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. See v. 9 and note on 24:6.
26:25 you will . . . triumph. Saul makes a veiled reference to his own conviction that David will replace him as king (24:20).
27:1—31:13 David’s flight to Philistia and Saul’s final defeat by the Philistines—while David is engaged in a campaign against the Amalekites.
27:1 I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. Under the pressure of Saul’s superior forces David feels compelled to seek security outside Israel’s borders. land of the Philistines. For the second time David seeks refuge in Philistia (21:10–15).
27:2 Achish . . . king of Gath. See 21:10 and note. In contrast to David’s previous excursion into Philistia, Achish is now ready to receive him because he has become known as a formidable adversary of Saul. Moreover, to offer sanctuary under the circumstances would obligate David and his men to serve at his call in any military venture (28:1).
27:3 Ahinoam. See note on 25:43. Abigail. See 25:39–42.
27:4 he no longer searched for him. Saul did not have sufficient military strength to make incursions into Philistine territory, and with David out of the country he no longer faced an internal threat to his throne.
27:5 in one of the country towns. David desired more independence and freedom of movement than was possible while residing under the very eyes of the king of Gath. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you? David implies that he is not worthy of this honor.
27:6 Ziklag. Included in a list of towns in southern Judah (Jos 15:31; see also map). It was given to the tribe of Simeon (Jos 19:1–5) and was presumably occupied by them (cf. Jdg 1:17–18), only to be lost to the Philistines at a later, undisclosed time. it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. As royal property.
27:7 It was not until after the death of Saul that David moved his residence from Ziklag (2Sa 1:1; 2:1–3) to Hebron.
27:8 Geshurites. A people residing in the area south of Philistia who were not defeated by the Israelites at the time of the conquest (Jos 13:1–3) and who are to be distinguished from the Geshurites residing in the north near the upper Jordan in Aram (2Sa 3:3; 13:37–38; Dt 3:14; Jos 12:5). Girzites. Not mentioned elsewhere in the OT. Amalekites. See note on 15:2. Shur. See note on 15:7.
27:9 he did not leave a man or woman alive. See article. David’s reason for this is given in v. 11; his action conformed to that of Joshua in the conquest of Canaan (see, e.g., Jos 6:21 and note on 6:17).
27:10 Negev of Judah. The southern portion of Judah. Negev in Hebrew means “dry” and designates the southern desert, a large area that extends from Beersheba to the highlands of the Sinai peninsula. Jerahmeel. The Jerahmeelites were descendants of Judah through Hezron (1Ch 2:9,25). Kenites. See note on 15:6.
27:12 Achish trusted David. David led Achish to believe that he was raiding outposts of Israelite territory when in actuality he was attacking the Geshurites, Girzites and Amalekites (see v. 8 and map).
28:1 accompany me in the army. In the ancient Near East, to accept sanctuary in a country involved obligations of military service (see note on 27:2).
28:2 you will see for yourself what your servant can do. Perhaps an ambiguous answer. I will make you my bodyguard. Very likely this was conditional on David’s proof of his loyalty and effectiveness in the projected campaign. Later, David would have a personal guard made up largely of Philistines (see 2Sa 15:18 and note).
28:3 Now Samuel was dead. See 25:1. Saul could not turn to him, even in desperation. expelled . . . from the land. Possibly a euphemism for “put to death,” in agreement with Pentateuchal law (vv. 9,21). mediums and spiritists. See Lev 19:31; 20:6,27; Dt 18:11.
28:4 Shunem. The Philistines assembled their forces far to the north, along the plain of Jezreel in the territory of Issachar (Jos 19:18). Gilboa. A range of mountains east of the plain of Jezreel (see map).
28:5 terror filled his heart. Because he was estranged from the Lord and was not performing his role as the true theocratic king (see note on 17:11).
28:6 He inquired of the LORD. Presumably through the agency of a priest. Saul seems to sense disaster in the approaching battle and seeks divine revelation concerning its outcome. dreams. Direct personal revelation (see Nu 12:6 and note on 12:6–8). Urim. Revelation through the priest (see note on 2:28). Since the authentic ephod and its Urim were with Abiathar, who was aligned with David (23:2,6,9), either Saul had fashioned another ephod for his use or the author is simply stressing that God had not communicated with Saul by any of the three forms of revelation conventionally used. prophets. David had a prophet (Gad, 22:5), but after Samuel’s alienation from Saul (15:35) no prophet served Saul.
28:7 Find me a woman who is a medium. In his desperation Saul turns to a pagan practice that he himself had previously outlawed (v. 3) in accordance with the Mosaic law (Lev 19:31). Endor. Located about six miles northwest of Shunem (v. 4; Jos 17:11).
28:9 Why have you set a trap for my life . . . ? The woman is very cautious about practicing her trade with strangers, afraid that she might be betrayed to Saul (see note on v. 3).
28:10 As surely as the LORD lives. See note on 14:39,45.
28:12 When the woman saw Samuel. The woman may have conjured up a demon. But more likely, God permitted the spirit of Samuel to actually appear to the woman. In any event, the medium was used to convey to Saul that the impending battle would bring death and end his dynasty—just as Samuel had previously announced (15:26,28), because of Saul’s unfaithfulness to the Lord. she cried out . . . You are Saul! By whatever means, the medium suddenly becomes aware that she is dealing with Saul.
28:14 An old man wearing a robe. Saul remembers Samuel as customarily dressed in this apparel (15:27).
28:17 torn the kingdom out of your hands and given . . . to David. See 15:28 and note. In desperation Saul had torn Samuel’s robe, an act symbolizing the Lord’s snatching the kingdom away from Saul (15:27–28). David had earlier cut off a corner of Saul’s robe, with similar symbolic meaning (see 24:4 and note).
28:19 tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. In the realm of the dead—Saul’s doom is sealed (31:6).
29:1 The Philistines gathered all their forces. The narrative flow broken at 28:2 is resumed. Aphek. A place in the vicinity of Shunem (28:4), to be distinguished from another place of the same name referred to in 4:1 (see note there; see also 1Ki 20:26, 30; 2Ki 13:17).
29:2 Philistine rulers. See note on 5:8.
29:3 I have found no fault in him. David’s tactics described in 27:10–12 were highly successful. (Cf. Pilate’s similar words about Jesus [Lk 23:4; Jn 18:38].)
29:4 the place you assigned him. Ziklag (27:6). or he will turn against us during the fighting. The Philistines had experienced just such a reversal on a previous occasion (14:21). taking the heads. As trophies of victory (see 17:51; see also 5:4; 31:9 and notes).
29:5 See 21:11 and note on 18:7.
29:6 As surely as the LORD lives. See note on 14:39,45. Achish swears by the God of Israel apparently as a means of proving his sincerity to David.
29:8 But what have I done? David pretends disappointment in order to keep intact his strategy of deception. In reality this turn of events rescued David from a serious dilemma. Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? David again uses an ambiguous statement (28:2). To whom was he referring as “my lord the king”—Achish or Saul or the Lord?
29:9 as an angel of God. A common simile (see 2Sa 14:17 and note).
29:11 Jezreel. The place of Israel’s camp (v. 1).
30:1—31:13 While Saul goes to his death at the hands of the Philistines, David is drawn into and pursues the Lord’s continuing war with the Amalekites (see 15:2–3 and notes).
30:1 Ziklag. See note on 27:6. Amalekites. See 27:8 and note on 15:2. The absence of David and his warriors gave the Amalekites opportunity for revenge. Negev. See note on 27:10.
30:5 Ahinoam. See note on 25:43. Abigail. See 25:42.
30:6 David found strength in the LORD. As he had throughout his life (see 17:37 and note).
30:7 Abiathar the priest. See note on 22:20. ephod. See note on 2:28.
30:14 Negev. See note on 27:10. Kerethites. Along with the Pelethites, they later contributed contingents of professional warriors to David’s private army (see 2Sa 8:18 and note; 15:18; 20:7; 1Ki 1:38). The name may indicate that they originally came from the island of Crete (see Jer 47:4 and note). Negev of Caleb. The area south of Hebron (Jos 14:13).
30:17 camels. The mount of choice for the Amalekites and other eastern peoples (see Jdg 6:3,5 and note on 6:5).
30:22 troublemakers. See note on Dt 13:13.
30:23 what the LORD has given us. See 25:28 and note. David gently but firmly rejects the idea that their victory is to be attributed to their own prowess. Because the Lord gave the victory, no segment of David’s men could claim any greater right to the spoils than any other.
30:24 All will share alike. Cf. Ex 16:18 and note.
30:26 elders of Judah, who were his friends. David sent the plunder as an expression of gratitude to those who had assisted him during his flight from Saul (v. 31), thus preparing the way for his later elevation to kingship in Judah (2Sa 2:1–4).
30:29 Jerahmeelites. See note on 27:10. Kenites. See note on 15:6.
30:31 Hebron. The most important city in the central part of Judah. The other locations mentioned are to the southwest and southeast of Hebron.
31:1,8 Mount Gilboa. A range of hills (2Sa 1:21) at the southeast end of the Plain of Jezreel and at the head of the valley that leads down to Beth Shan. It is referred to elsewhere in the OT only as the place where Saul died (see 2Sa 1:6, 21; 21:12; see also map).
31:2 Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. See note on 14:49. One son, Ish-Bosheth or Esh-Baal (1Ch 8:33; 9:39) somehow survived the battle. Abner, who also survived, later supported him in succeeding his father as king (2Sa 2:8–9).
31:4 uncircumcised fellows. See 14:6 and note. abuse me. A practice that was not uncommon; previously the Philistines had mutilated and humiliated Samson after his capture (Jdg 16:21–25). took his own sword and fell on it. The culmination of a long process of self-destruction.
31:6 all his men. Probably a reference to the men who fought alongside him in this battle (but see note on v. 2).
31:9 They cut off his head. David had done the same to Goliath (see 5:4 and note; see also 17:51).
31:10 They put his armor in the temple. Symbolic of ascribing the victory to the Philistine gods. Ashtoreths. See note on 7:3. Beth Shan. See note on Jos 17:11.
31:11 Jabesh Gilead. See note on 11:1.
31:12 They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons. The men of Jabesh Gilead had not forgotten how Saul had come to their defense when they were threatened by the Ammonites (11:1–11). burned them. Cremation was not customary in ancient Israel and here appears to have been done to prevent any further abuse of the bodies of Saul and his sons by the Philistines.
31:13 took their bones and buried them. David later had their remains removed from Jabesh and placed in the family burial grounds of Zela in Benjamin (2Sa 21:11–14). fasted seven days. As an indication of their mourning for Saul (cf. 2Sa 1:12; 3:35; 12:16,21–23).