1 Samuel 25:19

And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

And she said {H559} unto her servants {H5288}, Go on {H5674} before {H6440} me; behold, I come {H935} after {H310} you. But she told {H5046} not her husband {H376} Nabal {H5037}.

Then she said to her young men, "Go on ahead of me, and I'll come along after you." But she didn't tell her husband Naval.

and said to her young men, โ€œGo ahead of me. I will be right behind you.โ€ But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

And she said unto her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

Commentary

1 Samuel 25:19 is a pivotal moment in the narrative of 1 Samuel chapter 25, highlighting Abigail's decisive and discreet actions to avert disaster.

Context

This verse finds Abigail, the intelligent and discerning wife of the foolish and churlish Nabal, in a desperate situation. David, who had protected Nabal's shepherds, had sent a request for provisions, which Nabal insultingly refused (1 Samuel 25:10-11). Enraged by this affront, David vowed to destroy Nabal and every male in his household (1 Samuel 25:22). Informed of the impending doom by one of her servants, Abigail immediately gathered provisions to appease David. Her instruction to her servants to go ahead of her, followed by the crucial detail, "But she told not her husband Nabal," underscores her strategic thinking and understanding of Nabal's character, knowing he would likely obstruct her peacemaking efforts.

Key Themes

  • Abigail's Discretion and Wisdom: Abigail demonstrates remarkable foresight and practical wisdom. She recognized the severity of Nabal's offense and acted swiftly to prevent bloodshed, contrasting sharply with her husband's ignorance and arrogance (1 Samuel 25:25).
  • Preventing Conflict: Her immediate and secret intervention was a direct act of peacemaking, saving Nabal's household and preventing David from committing a rash act of vengeance. This highlights the power of wise intervention in escalating situations.
  • The Folly of Nabal: Nabal's complete unawareness of the danger he was in, due to his wife's secrecy, further emphasizes his foolishness and lack of perception, traits that ultimately led to his demise (1 Samuel 25:38).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "But she told not her husband Nabal" in the KJV translates the Hebrew ื•ึฐืœึนื ื”ึดื’ึผึดื™ื“ึธื” ืœึฐืึดื™ืฉืึธื”ึผ ื ึธื‘ึธืœ (v'lo higgida l'isha Nabal), which literally means "and she did not declare/tell to her husband Nabal." The emphasis is on her deliberate act of concealment. This wasn't an oversight but a calculated decision, recognizing that Nabal's stubbornness and irrationality would have foiled her efforts to resolve the crisis. Her actions were borne out of necessity and a deep understanding of her husband's nature, which she later describes as having "folly" (1 Samuel 25:25).

Practical Application

This verse offers valuable lessons for contemporary life. It teaches the importance of:

  • Wise Intervention: Recognizing when a situation is spiraling out of control and taking decisive, even unconventional, steps to de-escalate.
  • Discretion in Leadership: Sometimes, acting with discretion and without seeking approval from those who might hinder a good outcome is necessary for the greater good.
  • Peacemaking: Abigail's actions are a powerful example of proactive peacemaking, demonstrating that foresight and courage can avert serious conflict and loss. Her story reminds us to seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 32:20

    And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob [is] behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

  • Genesis 32:16

    And he delivered [them] into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.

  • Proverbs 31:27

    She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

  • Proverbs 31:11

    The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

  • Proverbs 31:12

    She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
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