1 Samuel 25:10

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who [is] David? and who [is] the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

And Nabal {H5037} answered {H6030} David's {H1732} servants {H5650}, and said {H559}, Who is David {H1732}? and who is the son {H1121} of Jesse {H3448}? there be many {H7231} servants {H5650} now a days {H3117} that break away {H6555} every man {H376} from {H6440} his master {H113}.

Naval answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Yishai? There are many servants nowadays running away from their masters.

But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master.

Commentary

1 Samuel 25:10 captures a pivotal moment of conflict and character revelation, where Nabal, a wealthy but ill-tempered man, arrogantly rebuffs David’s request for provisions. This verse sets the stage for David’s near-vengeful response and the wise intervention of Abigail.

Context

At this point in Israel's history, David is on the run from King Saul, living as an outlaw leader in the wilderness of Paran. He and his 600 men have been protecting the flocks and shepherds of wealthy landowners in the region, including those of Nabal, during their grazing season. When Nabal holds his sheep-shearing festival, a time of feasting and generosity, David sends ten young men to respectfully request a share of the bounty, acknowledging the protection his men had provided. Nabal's response in this verse is an outright insult and a profound misjudgment of David's character and future significance.

Key Themes

  • Arrogance and Disrespect: Nabal's questions, "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?" are deeply contemptuous. He dismisses David's identity and lineage, refusing to acknowledge any debt or respect. This highlights his pride and lack of wisdom.
  • Folly and Misjudgment: Nabal's name itself means "fool" or "senseless," and his actions perfectly embody this. He fails to recognize David's growing influence, his divine favor, and the potential consequences of insulting a powerful, anointed leader. Despite David's divine anointing as future king, Nabal sees him merely as a runaway servant.
  • Testing of Leadership: This incident serves as a test of David's leadership and self-control. Nabal's provocation pushes David to the brink of violent revenge, highlighting the dangers of unchecked anger.
  • Turbulence of the Times: Nabal's comment, "there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master," reflects the instability of the period, where many disaffected or desperate individuals might indeed become bandits. However, he wrongly lumps David, who has divine calling and a loyal following, into this category.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?" is a rhetorical question designed to demean and diminish. By referring to David as "the son of Jesse," Nabal attempts to reduce him to an unknown, common individual without status or authority, despite David's established reputation as a warrior and Saul's son-in-law. This is a deliberate slight against David's lineage and current position, underscoring Nabal's contempt.

Practical Application

  • Beware of Pride and Disrespect: Nabal's downfall began with his arrogant refusal to show proper respect and generosity. This serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of pride and underestimating others, especially those whom God has chosen or is elevating.
  • The Importance of Discernment: Nabal's folly was his inability to discern David's true character and God's hand upon him. As believers, we are called to exercise spiritual discernment and wisdom in our interactions, recognizing God's work in unexpected places. The narrative contrasts Nabal's folly with the wisdom of his wife, Abigail, who later intervenes to avert disaster.
  • Handling Insults and Provocation: David's initial reaction to Nabal's insult shows the human tendency towards anger and revenge when provoked. The story ultimately highlights the importance of seeking God's guidance and exercising self-control even when deeply offended, rather than acting on impulse.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 9:28 (4 votes)

    And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we should serve him? [is] not [he] the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

  • 1 Kings 12:16 (2 votes)

    ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither [have we] inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

  • 1 Samuel 22:2 (2 votes)

    And every one [that was] in distress, and every one that [was] in debt, and every one [that was] discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

  • 2 Samuel 20:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

  • Psalms 123:3 (2 votes)

    Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

  • Psalms 123:4 (2 votes)

    Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.

  • 1 Samuel 20:30 (2 votes)

    Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?