1 Samuel 25:36

KJV

¶ And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart [was] merry within him, for he [was] very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Abigail {H26} came {H935} to Nabal {H5037}; and, behold, he held a feast {H4960} in his house {H1004}, like the feast {H4960} of a king {H4428}; and Nabal's {H5037} heart {H3820} was merry {H2896} within him, for he was very {H3966} drunken {H7910}: wherefore she told {H5046} him nothing {H1697}, less {H6996} or more {H1419}, until the morning {H1242} light {H216}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Avigayil came to Naval; there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king. He was in high spirits, because he was very drunk. So she told him nothing whatever until the next morning.

Berean Standard Bible

When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

American Standard Version

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Abigail returns home from her successful intercession with David, only to find her husband, Nabal, hosting an extravagant, king-like feast in his house. Nabal is profoundly intoxicated and in a state of oblivious revelry. Recognizing his extreme drunkenness and the futility of communicating such grave news in his impaired condition, Abigail wisely chooses to remain silent, deferring the revelation of the averted crisis until the following morning when Nabal would be sober and capable of comprehension. This strategic delay highlights Abigail's exceptional prudence and foresight in a volatile situation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Abigail's courageous and eloquent intervention (1 Samuel 25:18-35), where she successfully appeased David, who was on his way to destroy Nabal and his entire household due to Nabal's insolent refusal to provide provisions. Abigail's plea, rich in theological insight and prophetic foresight regarding David's future kingship, averted bloodshed and earned David's blessing. Verse 36 marks her return home, creating a dramatic juxtaposition between the averted catastrophe and Nabal's blissful ignorance. The narrative then swiftly moves to Nabal's reaction upon hearing the truth (1 Samuel 25:37) and his subsequent divine judgment (1 Samuel 25:38), leading to Abigail's marriage to David (1 Samuel 25:39-42). This verse is a pivotal moment, setting the stage for the resolution of the conflict and Nabal's demise.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness of Paran, a semi-arid region where David and his men, living as fugitives, relied on the goodwill of wealthy landowners like Nabal for sustenance. Nabal, a Calebite, owned vast flocks in Carmel, a fertile area in southern Judah. Feasts were common in ancient Israel, often associated with harvest, sheep-shearing (as in 1 Samuel 25:2), or significant events. A "feast of a king" implies an extraordinary level of opulence and indulgence, reflecting Nabal's immense wealth and self-importance. Drunkenness, while not universally condemned, was often associated with folly and lack of self-control in biblical wisdom literature, as seen in [Proverbs 23:20-21](/proverbs/23-20 "Proverbs 23:20-21 - Warnings Against Drunkenness"). Abigail's actions reflect the limited agency of women in that patriarchal society, yet her wisdom and initiative transcend these limitations, demonstrating a profound understanding of social dynamics and divine will.
* **Key Themes:** [1 Samuel 25](/1_samuel/25 "1 Samuel 25 - David, Nabal, and Abigail") as a whole powerfully illustrates the **contrast between foolishness and wisdom**. Nabal embodies the epitome of folly, his name literally meaning "fool," characterized by his churlishness, arrogance, and self-indulgence, which ultimately lead to his destruction. In stark contrast, Abigail represents profound wisdom, discretion, and spiritual discernment, acting as an instrument of divine providence to prevent David from sinning. This verse specifically highlights **prudence in communication**, as Abigail's decision to wait underscores the importance of proper timing and receptivity in delivering crucial information. It also subtly emphasizes **divine timing and sovereignty**, as Nabal's drunken state ensures that God's judgment, rather than David's hasty vengeance, will ultimately deal with him, as David himself acknowledges in [1 Samuel 25:33](/1_samuel/25-33 "1 Samuel 25:33 - David Blesses Abigail").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Merry (Hebrew, _ṭôb_):** While *ṭôb* often translates as "good" and can refer to a state of genuine joy or well-being, its usage here is immediately qualified by Nabal's extreme drunkenness. In this context, it denotes an excessive, uninhibited, and morally questionable revelry, a state of pleasure derived from indulgence rather than righteousness. It highlights Nabal's self-absorbed and undiscerning "good time," detached from reality and impending danger.
* **Very drunken (Hebrew, _shikkōr m'ōd_):** The Hebrew phrase emphasizes an extreme state of intoxication. *Shikkōr* refers to being drunk, and *m'ōd* intensifies it to "very" or "exceedingly." This detail is crucial, as it explains Abigail's strategic silence. Nabal is not merely tipsy but profoundly impaired, rendering him incapable of rational thought, comprehension, or responsible reaction to the grave news Abigail carries.
* **Told him nothing (Hebrew, _lō' higgîdah lô dāvār_):** This phrase underscores Abigail's remarkable self-control and strategic intelligence. *Lō' higgîdah* means "she did not tell," and *dāvār* means "a word" or "a thing." Her complete silence, "less or more," demonstrates her understanding that speaking would be futile and potentially dangerous given Nabal's state. This deliberate withholding of information is an act of profound wisdom, contrasting sharply with Nabal's lack of self-control.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Abigail came to Nabal;":** This clause marks Abigail's return home after her successful and life-saving encounter with David. It sets the scene for the dramatic contrast that follows, bringing the wise, discerning wife back into the presence of her foolish, oblivious husband.
* **"and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king;":** The exclamation "behold" draws attention to the surprising and ironic scene. Nabal, unaware of the peril he narrowly escaped, is celebrating lavishly, indulging in an extravagant feast typically reserved for royalty or highly significant occasions. This detail highlights his immense wealth, his self-importance, and his profound disconnect from the reality of his near destruction.
* **"and Nabal's heart [was] merry within him, for he [was] very drunken:":** This part reveals Nabal's internal state and its cause. His "merry heart" is not a sign of genuine joy or peace, but a direct consequence of his extreme intoxication. The causal "for" (or "because") explicitly links his merriment to his drunkenness, emphasizing that his state is one of impaired judgment and self-indulgent revelry, rather than virtuous happiness.
* **"wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.":** This final clause describes Abigail's decisive and wise action. Given Nabal's incapacitated state, she understood that any attempt to convey the gravity of the situation would be useless or even provoke a dangerous reaction. Her complete silence, withholding "nothing, less or more," demonstrates her strategic thinking and patience, choosing the opportune moment to deliver the critical news when Nabal would be sober and capable of receiving it.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Contrast**, juxtaposing Abigail's sober wisdom and strategic patience with Nabal's drunken folly and self-indulgent revelry. This fundamental opposition between the two characters is a dominant theme throughout [1 Samuel 25](/1_samuel/25 "1 Samuel 25 - David, Nabal, and Abigail"). There is profound **Irony** in Nabal's "feast of a king," as he celebrates oblivious to the fact that a true king (David, God's anointed) was just at his doorstep, intent on his destruction, and that his own life hangs by a thread. His "merry heart" is also ironic, born of vice rather than virtue, and utterly detached from the reality of his impending doom. The narrative employs **Foreshadowing** through Abigail's calculated silence; her decision to wait until morning subtly hints at the dramatic and fatal consequences that will unfold once Nabal learns the truth in his sober state. Furthermore, the description of Nabal's feast and drunkenness serves as powerful **Characterization**, reinforcing his portrayal as a foolish, gluttonous, and arrogant man whose appetites blind him to spiritual and physical dangers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the biblical principle of divine timing and the wisdom of patience, particularly in communication. Abigail's discerning silence is not a lack of courage but an act of profound wisdom, recognizing that truth, however vital, must be delivered when the recipient is capable of processing it. This aligns with the broader biblical emphasis on speaking "a word fitly spoken" ([Proverbs 25:11](/proverbs/25-11 "Proverbs 25:11 - A Word Fitly Spoken")), and the understanding that there is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" ([Ecclesiastes 3:7](/ecclesiastes/3-7 "Ecclesiastes 3:7 - A Time for Everything")). Nabal's state of drunken revelry also serves as a stark warning against the dangers of self-indulgence and impaired judgment, themes echoed throughout Scripture that highlight how sin can blind individuals to both physical and spiritual realities, ultimately leading to destruction.

* [Proverbs 23:29-35](/proverbs/23-29 "Proverbs 23:29-35 - Warnings Against Drunkenness")
* [Ecclesiastes 3:1-8](/ecclesiastes/3-1 "Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - A Time for Everything")
* [Proverbs 15:23](/proverbs/15-23 "Proverbs 15:23 - A Word Fitly Spoken")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Abigail's actions in this verse offer profound lessons for navigating difficult relationships and challenging circumstances in our own lives. Her decision to wait until Nabal was sober before delivering the life-altering news demonstrates remarkable self-control, discernment, and strategic thinking. In a world often characterized by impulsive reactions and immediate gratification, Abigail reminds us of the power of patience and the wisdom of choosing the right moment for crucial conversations. This applies not only to personal relationships, where we might encounter individuals impaired by emotion, stress, or literal intoxication, but also to situations where our message might be misunderstood or rejected if delivered prematurely. We are called to cultivate a spirit of discernment, asking ourselves: Is this the right time? Is this person receptive? Will my words be heard and understood, or will they merely escalate conflict? Furthermore, Nabal's oblivious revelry serves as a cautionary tale against self-indulgence and the dangers of allowing our appetites to blind us to reality, both temporal and spiritual. True joy and peace come from a sober mind and a heart aligned with God's will, not from fleeting pleasures that obscure truth and invite disaster.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you found it wise to delay speaking a truth, and what was the outcome?**
* **How can we cultivate discernment to know when is the "right time" to communicate difficult information?**
* **In what ways might we, like Nabal, be "merry" or self-indulgent in ways that blind us to important realities or spiritual dangers?**
* **What practical steps can you take to ensure your communication is both truthful and timely?**

### FAQ
**Why did Abigail wait until the morning to tell Nabal?**

Answer: Abigail waited until the morning light because Nabal was "very drunken" and holding an extravagant feast. In his state of extreme intoxication, he would have been incapable of understanding the gravity of the situation – that David and 400 armed men had been on their way to destroy him and his entire household, and that Abigail had narrowly averted this catastrophe. Attempting to tell him while he was drunk would have been futile, potentially dangerous, and counterproductive. Her decision demonstrates profound wisdom, patience, and strategic thinking, ensuring that her crucial message would be received when Nabal was sober and able to comprehend the immense danger he had escaped and the debt he owed to her intervention. This allowed for the full impact of the news to register, setting the stage for the dramatic events that followed in [1 Samuel 25:37-38](/1_samuel/25-37 "1 Samuel 25:37-38 - Nabal's Reaction and Death").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dramatic contrast between Nabal's drunken revelry and Abigail's sober wisdom in 1 Samuel 25:36 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Nabal, consumed by his own appetites and oblivious to the impending judgment, embodies humanity's fallen state, often celebrating in ignorance while facing spiritual destruction. His "feast of a king" is a hollow imitation of true kingship, a self-indulgent revelry that leads to death. In stark contrast, Jesus is the true King, who, far from being consumed by earthly pleasures, perfectly embodied sober judgment and divine wisdom. He always knew the opportune time to speak and to remain silent, demonstrating perfect discernment in His interactions, as seen in His quiet endurance before His accusers ([Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - Silent Before His Accusers") and [Matthew 27:12-14](/matthew/27-12 "Matthew 27:12-14 - Jesus' Silence Before Pilate")). While Nabal's foolishness brought him to the brink of destruction, Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly faced the full wrath of God for humanity's sin, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. His coming inaugurates a true "feast of a king"—the [marriage supper of the Lamb](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb"), a celebration not of self-indulgence but of redemption and eternal life, to which all who turn from their folly and embrace His wisdom are invited.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 13:28

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

Proverbs 20:1

¶ Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

1 Thessalonians 5:7

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

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.

2 Samuel 13:23

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

Matthew 10:16

¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.