Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

1 Samuel 25:38

Next

And it came to pass about ten days [after], that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

And it came to pass about ten {H6235} days {H3117} after, that the LORD {H3068} smote {H5062} Nabal {H5037}, that he died {H4191}.

Some ten days later ADONAI struck Naval, and he died.

About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.

And it came to pass about ten days after, that Jehovah smote Nabal, so that he died.

Commentary

Context

This verse marks the dramatic culmination of the conflict between David and Nabal, a wealthy but "churlish" and "evil" man from Maon. Earlier in the chapter, Nabal had contemptuously refused David's polite request for provisions, despite David's men having protected Nabal's shepherds in the wilderness. David, deeply insulted and enraged, set out to destroy Nabal and his entire household. However, Nabal's wise and discerning wife, Abigail, intervened, secretly bringing provisions to David and humbly pleading for his mercy, thus averting a bloody massacre. Her wisdom prevented David from taking vengeance into his own hands and shedding innocent blood.

Upon Abigail's return, she found Nabal drunk from a great feast. The next morning, when she told him everything, "his heart died within him, and he became as a stone" (1 Samuel 25:37). This sudden physical or psychological shock likely led to his incapacitation, and then, after approximately ten days, the Lord directly intervened.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice: The verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereign hand in delivering justice. Though David was prepared to exact revenge, God reserved the right to punish Nabal for his foolishness, arrogance, and disrespect towards God's anointed. This demonstrates that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
  • God's Timing: The phrase "about ten days after" emphasizes that God's justice, while certain, operates on His own timeline. It was not immediate but deliberate, allowing time for Nabal's full awareness of his near-fatal error and the consequences of his actions.
  • Consequences of Arrogance and Foolishness: Nabal's demise serves as a stark warning against pride, insolence, and a refusal to acknowledge those whom God favors. His character, implied by his name (meaning "fool"), ultimately led to his destruction.
  • God's Protection of His Anointed: By smiting Nabal, God protected David, His chosen king, from the sin of taking personal revenge. This highlights God's faithfulness to uphold and defend His servants, ensuring His purposes are fulfilled.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word translated "smote" is nakah (נָכָה), which often implies a direct, forceful, and even fatal blow, frequently from God. It is used throughout the Old Testament to describe divine judgment or affliction. This choice of word strongly indicates that Nabal's death was not a natural occurrence but a direct act of divine intervention, a judgment from God Himself, rather than a mere consequence of his shock or a natural illness.

Practical Application

This passage offers several timeless lessons:

  • Trust in God's Justice: When wronged, it is tempting to seek immediate retribution. However, this verse reminds us to wait on the Lord and trust that He will deal righteously with injustice in His perfect timing.
  • Beware of Pride and Disrespect: Nabal's story is a powerful caution against arrogance, insensitivity, and failing to show proper respect, especially towards those in authority or those God has chosen.
  • The Value of Discernment: Abigail's wise and humble actions saved her household and prevented David from sinning. Her example underscores the importance of discernment and peacemaking in difficult situations, contrasting sharply with Nabal's foolishness.
  • God Defends His Own: For those who seek to follow God, this narrative provides comfort that the Lord watches over and defends His people against those who would harm or disrespect them, even when human efforts fail or are misguided.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • 1 Samuel 26:10 (3 votes)

    David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

  • 1 Samuel 6:9 (2 votes)

    And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote us: it [was] a chance [that] happened to us.

  • 2 Kings 19:35 (2 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

  • Acts 12:23 (2 votes)

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

  • Exodus 12:29 (2 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

  • 2 Chronicles 10:15 (2 votes)

    So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

  • 2 Samuel 6:7 (2 votes)

    And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.