The death of Samuel. David, provoked by Nabal, threateneth to destroy him: but is appeased by Abigail.
Samuel dieth and is mourned. 3. Dauid requesting, 10. and not obtaining victuals of Nabal, 13 threatneth to kil him. 14. But his wife Abigail prudently preuenteth the reuenge, 18. by sending victuals, 23. and geuing good wordes. 37. Al which when Nabal vnderstandeth, he •ainteth, and after tenne dayes dieth. 39. Dauid marieth Abigail: 43. also Achinoam: 44. and his wife Michol is geuen to an other.
1And Samuel died, and all Israel was gathered together, and they mourned for him, and buried him in his house in Ramatha. And David rose, and went down into the wilderness of Pharan.E morì Samuele, e tutto Israele si adunò e lo pianse, e lo seppellirono in casa sua in Ramatha. E David si mosse per andare nel deserto di Pharan.AND Samuel died, and al Israel was gathered together, and they mourned for him, and buried him in his house in Ramatha. And Dauid rising went downe into the desert of Pharan.Mortuus est autem Samuel, et congregatus est universus Israël, et planxerunt eum, et sepelierunt eum in domo sua in Ramatha. Consurgensque David descendit in desertum Pharan. 2Now there was a certain man in the wilderness of Maon, and his possessions were in Carmel, and the man was very great: and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and it happened that he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.Or eravi un uomo nella solitudine di Maon che avea i suoi beni sul Carmelo; e quest'uomo era straricco: e avea tre mila pecore, e mille capre: e avvenne che si faceva la tosatura delle sue pecore sul Carmelo.And there was a certaine man in the wildernes of Maon, and his possession in Carmel, and that man was exceding great: and he had three thousand sheepe, & a thousand goates: and it chanced that his flocke was shorne in Carmel.Erat autem vir quispiam in solitudine Maon, et possessio ejus in Carmelo, et homo ille magnus nimis: erantque ei oves tria millia, et mille capræ: et accidit ut tonderetur grex ejus in Carmelo. 3Now the name of the man was Nabal: and the name of his wife was Abigail. And she was a prudent and very comely woman: but her husband was churlish, and very bad and ill natured: and he was of the house of Caleb.E quest'uomo avea nome Nabal; e il nome di sua moglie era Abigail: donna di somma prudenza, e avvenente; ma il marito di lei era crudo, e di cattivi fatti, e malvagio. Egli era della stirpe di Caleb.And the name of that man was Nabal: and the name of his wife Abigail. and that woman was very wise and beutiful: moreouer her husband hard, and very il, and malicious: and he was of the kindred of Caleb.Nomen autem viri illius erat Nabal. Et nomen uxoris ejus Abigail: eratque mulier illa prudentissima, et speciosa: porro vir ejus durus, et pessimus, et malitiosus: erat autem de genere Caleb. 4And when David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal was shearing his sheep,David adunque avendo avuta notizia nel deserto, come Nabal tosava i suoi greggi,When Dauid therefore heard in the desert, that Nabal sheared his flocke,Cum ergo audisset David in deserto quod tonderet Nabal gregem suum, 5He sent ten young men, and said to them: Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and salute him in my name with peace.Mandò dieci giovani, e disse loro: Salite sul Carmelo, e andate a trovar Nabal, e lo saluterete a mio nome con civiltà,he sent tenne yong men, and sayd to them: Goe vp into Carmel, and you shal come to Nabal, and shal salute him in my name peaceably.misit decem juvenes, et dixit eis: Ascendite in Carmelum, et venietis ad Nabal, et salutabitis eum ex nomine meo pacifice.
6And you shall say: Peace be to my brethren, and to thee, and peace to thy house, and peace to all that thou hast.E gli direte: La pace sia a' miei fratelli, e a te, e pace alla tua casa, e pace a tutto quello che a te appartiene.And you shal say: Peace be to my brethren, and to thee, and peace to thy house, and to al whatsoeuer thou hast be peace.Et dicetis: Sit fratribus meis et tibi pax, et domui tuæ pax, et omnibus, quæcumque habes, sit pax. 7I have heard that thy shepherds that were with us in the desert were shearing: we never molested them, neither was there ought missing to them of the flock at any time, all the while they were with us in Carmel.Ho sentito dire, come i tuoi pastori fanno la tosatura; essi stavano con noi nel deserto, nè mai gli abbiamo inquietati; e non mancò nulla de' loro greggi per tutto il tempo che furon con noi sul Carmelo.I haue heard, that thy shephards which were with vs in the desert did sheare we haue neuer molested them, neither hath ought beene wanting to them at any time of the flocke, al the time that they were with vs in Carmel.Audivi quod tonderent pastores tui, qui erant nobiscum in deserto: numquam eis molesti fuimus, nec aliquando defuit quidquam eis de grege, omni tempore quo fuerunt nobiscum in Carmelo. 8Ask thy servants, and they will tell thee. Now therefore let thy servants find favour in thy eyes: for we are come in a good day, whatsoever thy hand shall find give to thy servants, and to thy son David.Domandane a' tuoi servi, e te ne daranno conto. Trovin pertanto adesso i servi tuoi grazia dinanzi a te, dacché siam venuti in giorno d'allegria: e dà ai tuoi servi, e a David tuo figliuolo quel che ti è comodo di dare.Aske thy seruantes, and they wil tel thee. Now therefore let thy seruantes finde grace in thyne eies: for we are come in a good day, whatsoeuer thy hand shal finde, geue thy seruantes, and thy sonne Dauid.Interroga pueros tuos, et indicabunt tibi. Nunc ergo inveniant pueri tui gratiam in oculis tuis: in die enim bona venimus: quodcumque invenerit manus tua, da servis tuis, et filio tuo David. 9And when David’s servants came, they spoke to Nabal all these words in David’s name, and then held their peace.E i giovani di David andarono, e dissero tutto questo a Nabal da parte di David; e si tacquero.And when Dauids seruantes were come, they spoke to Nabal al these wordes in Dauids name: and so held their peace.Cumque venissent pueri David, locuti sunt ad Nabal omnia verba hæc ex nomine David: et siluerunt. 10But Nabal answering the servants of David, said: Who is David? and what is the son of Isai? servants are multiplied now days who flee from their masters.Ma Nabal rispose ai giovani di David, e disse: Chi è David? Chi è il figliuolo d'Isai? cresce oggimai il numero dei servi, che scappano da' loro padroni.But Nabal answering the seruantes of Dauid, said: Who is Dauid? and what is the sonne of Isai? There are seruantes multiplied now a daies which flee from their masters.Respondens autem Nabal pueris David, ait: Quis est David ? et quis est filius Isai ? hodie increverunt servi qui fugiunt dominos suos.
11Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and the flesh of my cattle, which I have killed for my shearers, and give to men whom I know not whence they are?Prenderò adunque io il mio pane e le mie acque, e le carni delle pecore che ho ucciso per quei che tosano, e darolle a gente, che non so donde vengano?Shal I then take my breades, and my waters, and the flesh of my cattel, which I haue killed for my sheares, and geue to men whom I know nnt whence they are?Tollam ergo panes meos, et aquas meas, et carnes pecorum quæ occidi tonsoribus meis, et dabo viris quos nescio unde sint ? 12So the servants of David went back their way, and returning came and told him all the words that he said.Ripigliarono adunque i servi di David la loro strada, e tornarono, e riferirono a lui tutto quello che gli avea detto.Therefore the seruantes of Dauid returned by their way, and returning came and told him al the wordes that he had said.Regressi sunt itaque pueri David per viam suam, et reversi venerunt, et nuntiaverunt ei omnia verba quæ dixerat. 13Then David said to his young men: Let every man gird on his sword. And they girded on every man his sword. And David also girded on his sword: and there followed David about four hundred men, and two hundred remained with the baggage.Allora disse David alla sua gente: Si cinga ognuno la sua spada. E ognun se la cinse, e David parimente si cinse la sua spada: e andarono con David circa quattrocento uomini; e rimasero dugento al bagaglio.Then sayd Dauid to his seruantes: Euery man gird him with his sworde. And they were euery one girded with their swordes. And Dauid also was girded with his sworde: and there folowed Dauid about foure hundred men: moreouer two hundred remayned at the baggage.Tunc ait David pueris suis: Accingatur unusquisque gladio suo. Et accincti sunt singuli gladiis suis, accinctusque est et David ense suo: et secuti sunt David quasi quadringenti viri: porro ducenti remanserunt ad sarcinas. 14But one of the servants told, Abigail, the wife of Nabal, saying: Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness, to salute our master: and he rejected them.Ma uno de' servi di Nabal recò alla moglie di lui Abigail questo avviso, e disse: Sappi che David t'ha mandato dal deserto alcuni uomini a salutare il nostro padrone: e questi non gli ha guardati in viso.But to Abigail the wife of Nabal one of their seruantes told, saying: Behold Dauid hath sent messengers from the desert, to blesse our maister. & he disdayned them:Abigail autem uxori Nabal nuntiavit unus de pueris suis, dicens: Ecce David misit nuntios de deserto, ut benedicerent domino nostro: et aversatus est eos.
15These men were very good to us, and gave us no trouble: Neither did we ever lose any thing all the time that we conversed with them in the desert.Questa gente è stata assai benigna verso di noi, e non ci ha inquietati, e non è mancato mai nulla per tutto il tempo che siamo stati con loro nel deserto,these men were good ynough to vs, and not trublesome: neither did euer any thing perish al the time, that we haue couuerst with them in the desert:Homines isti boni satis fuerant nobis, et non molesti: nec quidquam aliquando periit omni tempore quo fuimus conversati cum eis in deserto: 16They were a wall unto us, both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.Erano per noi come una muraglia tanto di giorno, come di notte per tutto il tempo che siamo stati con loro pascendo i greggi.they were in steed of a wal to vs both in the day and in the night, al the dayes that we fed the flockes with them.pro muro erant nobis tam in nocte quam in die, omnibus diebus quibus pavimus apud eos greges. 17Wherefore consider, and think what thou hast to do: for evil is determined against thy husband, and against thy house, and he is a son of Belial, so that no man can speak to him.Per la qual cosa pensa tu, e rifletti a quel che abbi da fare: perocché è matura la perdizione pel tuo marito, e per la tua casa, ed egli è un figliuolo di Befial, e nissuno può parlargli.Wherefore consider, & thinke what thou hast to doe, for malice is accomplished against thy husband, and against thy house, and he is the sonne of Belial, so that no man can speake to him.Quam ob rem considera, et recogita quid facias: quoniam completa est malitia adversum virum tuum, et adversum domum tuam, et ipse est filius Belial, ita ut nemo possit ei loqui. 18Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves, and two vessels of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of dry figs, and laid them upon asses:Abigail adunque si affrettò, e prese dugento pani, e due otri di vino, e cinque arieti cotti, e cinque misure di farina d'orzo, e cento penzoli di uva secca, e dugento panieri di fichi secchi, e caricò (il tutto) sopra gli asini.Abigail therefore made hast, and tooke two hundred loaues, and two bottels of wine, and fiue muttons ready drest, and fiue measures of polent, and a hundred branches of raysens, and two hundred mases of drie figges, and laid them vpon asses:Festinavit igitur Abigail, et tulit ducentos panes, et duos utres vini, et quinque arietes coctos, et quinque sata polentæ, et centum ligaturas uvæ passæ, et ducentas massas caricarum, et posuit super asinos:
19And she said to her servants: Go before me: behold, I will follow after you: but she told not her husband, Nabal.E disse a' suoi servi: Andate innanzi, e io verrò appresso a voi; ma non disse nulla al marito suo Nabal.and said to her seruantes: Goe before me: loe, I wil folow you at your backe: but she told not her husband Nabal.dixitque pueris suis: Præcedite me: ecce ego post tergum sequar vos: viro autem suo Nabal non indicavit. 20And when she had gotten upon an ass, and was coming down to the foot of the mountain, David and his men came down over against her, and she met them.Quando adunque ella fu salita sull'asino, e scendeva alle falde del monte, David colla sua gente le veniva di contro: ed ella si avanzò verso di loro.When she therefore had gotten vpon an asse, and came downe to the foote of the mountaine, Dauid and his men came downe meeting her, whom she also mette.Cum ergo ascendisset asinum, et descenderet ad radices montis, David et viri ejus descendebant in occursum ejus: quibus et illa occurrit. 21And David said: Truly in vain have I kept all that belonged to this fellow in the wilderness, and nothing was lost of all that pertained unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good.E Davidde diceva: Veramente invano ho io salvato tutta la roba di colui nel deserto; e non perì nulla di quel che era suo, ed ei mi ha renduto male per bene.And Dauid said: In vaine veryly haue I preserued al thinges that were this mans in the desert, and there perished nothing of al that perteined to him: and he hath rendred me euil for good.Et ait David: Vere frustra servavi omnia quæ hujus erant in deserto, et non periit quidquam de cunctis quæ ad eum pertinebant: et reddidit mihi malum pro bono. 22May God do so and so, and add more to the foes of David, if I leave of all that belong to him till the morning, any that pisseth against the wall.Il Signore faccia questo, e peggio a' nemici di David, se di tutti quelli che a lui appartengono, io lascerò vivo fino a domani un cane.These thinges doe God to the enemies of Dauid, and these thinges adde he, if I shal leaue of al thinges that perteine to him vntil morning, any thing pissing against the wal.Hæc faciat Deus inimicis David, et hæc addat, si reliquero de omnibus quæ ad ipsum pertinent usque mane mingentem ad parietem. 23And when Abigail saw David, she made haste and lighted off the ass, and fell before David, on her face, and adored upon the ground.Abigail veduto che ebbe David, sceso in fretta dall'asino, e si gettò boccone dinanzi a David per terra, e lo adorò.And when Abigail had seene Dauid, she made hast, and light from her asse, and fel downe before Dauid vpon her face, and adored vpon the earth,Cum autem vidisset Abigail David, festinavit, et descendit de asino, et procidit coram David super faciem suam, et adoravit super terram,
24And she fell at his feet, and said: Upon me let this iniquity be, my lord: let thy handmaid speak, I beseech thee, in thy ears, and hear the words of thy servant.E prostrata a' suoi piedi disse: A me s'imputi, signor mio, questa iniquità: sia lecito, te ne prego, alla tua serva di parlare: e presta orecchio a quel che dice la tua schiava.and fel at his feete, and sayd: In me my lord be this iniquitie: let thy handmayde speake I besech thee in thine eares: and heare the wordes of thy seruant.et cecidit ad pedes ejus, et dixit: In me sit, domine mi, hæc iniquitas: loquatur, obsecro, ancilla tua in auribus tuis, et audi verba famulæ tuæ. 25Let not my lord the king, I pray thee, regard this naughty man, Nabal: for according to his name, he is a fool, and folly is with him: but I, thy handmaid, did not see thy servants, my lord, whom thou sentest.Non far caso, ti prego, signor mio re, di quell'iniquo uomo di Nabal: perchè egli è stolto, come porta il suo nome, e la stoltezza lo domina. Io poi tua serva non vidi gli uomini mandati da te, signor mio.Let not my lord the king I pray thee, set his hart vpon this naughtie man Nabal: because according to his name, he is a foole, and follie is with him: but I thy handmaide sawe not thy seruantes my lord, whom thou didst send.Ne ponat, oro, dominus meus rex cor suum super virum istum iniquum Nabal: quoniam secundum nomen suum stultus est, et stultitia est cum eo: ego autem ancilla tua non vidi pueros tuos, domine mi, quos misisti. 26Now therefore, my lord, the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, who hath withholden thee from coming to blood, and hath saved thy hand to thee: and now let thy enemies be as Nabal, and all they that seek evil to my lord.Ma adesso, signor mio, viva il Signore, e viva l'anima tua, egli ti ha impedito di spargere il sangue, ed egli ha trattenuta la tua mano. Sieno adesso come Nabal i tuoi nemici, e que' che cercan di nuocere al mio signore.Now therefore my lord, our Lord liueth, and thy soule liueth, who hath stayed thee that thou shouldest not come vnto blood, and hath saued thy hand to thee: and now be thine enemies as Nabal, and they that seeke euil to my lord.Nunc ergo, domine mi, vivit Dominus, et vivit anima tua, qui prohibuit te ne venires in sanguinem, et salvavit manum tuam tibi: et nunc fiant sicut Nabal inimici tui, et qui quærunt domino meo malum. 27Wherefore receive this blessing, which thy handmaid hath brought to thee, my lord: and give it to the young men that follow thee, my lord.Per la qual cosa accetta la benedizione portata dalla tua serva a te signor mio: e dalla a' servi che vengono dietro a te signore mio.Wherefore receiue this benediction, which thy handmaide hath brought to thee my lord: and geue to thy seruantes that folow thee my lord.Quapropter suscipe benedictionem hanc, quam attulit ancilla tua tibi domino meo, et da pueris qui sequuntur te dominum meum.
28Forgive the iniquity of thy handmaid: for the Lord will surely make for my lord a faithful house, because thou, my lord, fightest the battles of the Lord: let not evil therefore be found in thee all the days of thy life.Rimetti alla tua serva questo peccato: imperocché sicuramente il Signore formerà per te, signor mio, una casa permanente, perchè tu, signor mio, pel Signore combatti: non sia adunque in te colpa veruna in tutto il tempo della tua vita.Take away the iniquitie of thy handmaide: for our Lord making wil make to my lord a faithful house, because thou my lord doest fight the battels of our Lord: let not malice therefore be found in thee al the dayes of thy life.Aufer iniquitatem famulæ tuæ: faciens enim faciet Dominus tibi domino meo domum fidelem, quia prælia Domini, domine mi, tu præliaris: malitia ergo non inveniatur in te omnibus diebus vitæ tuæ. 29For if a man at any time shall rise, and persecute thee, and seek thy life, the soul of my lord shall be kept, as in the bundle of the living, with the Lord thy God: but the souls of thy enemies shall be whirled, as with the violence and whirling of a sling.Perocché se mai venisse alcuno a perseguitarti, e cercasse di levarti la vita, sarà l'anima del signor mio custodita nella serie de' viventi presso il Signore Dio tuo: ma l'anima de' tuoi nemici sarà agitata, come in un impetuoso girar di fionda.For if a man shal rise, persecuting thee, and seeking thy life, the life of my lord shal be kept, as in the bundel of the liuing, with our Lord thy God: Moreouer the life of thine enemies shal be whurled, and in the violence, and whurle of a sling.Si enim surrexerit aliquando homo persequens te, et quærens animam tuam, erit anima domini mei custodita quasi in fasciculo viventium apud Dominum Deum tuum: porro inimicorum tuorum anima rotabitur, quasi in impetu et circulo fundæ. 30And when the Lord shall have done to thee, my lord, all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have made thee prince over Israel,Quando adunque il Signore avrà dati a te, signor mio, tutti que' beni, che ho predetto in favor tuo, e ti avrà costituito capo d'Israele,When our Lord therefore shal doe to thee, my lord, al good thinges, which he hath spoken concerning thee, and shal constitute thee prince ouer Israel,Cum ergo fecerit Dominus tibi domino meo omnia quæ locutus est bona de te, et constituerit te ducem super Israël, 31This shall not be an occasion of grief to thee, and a scruple of heart to my lord, that thou hast shed innocent blood, or hast revenged thyself: and when the Lord shall have done well by my lord, thou shalt remember thy handmaid.Non avrai tu, signor mio, questo rimorso, e questo peso al tuo cuore di avere sparso il sangue innocente, o di esserti vendicato da te stesso. E quando il Signore avrà dato del bene a te, signor mio, ti ricorderai della tua serva.this shal not be an occasion of sobbing to thee, and a scruple of hart to my lord, that thou hast shed innocent blood, or thy selfe hast reuenged thy selfe: and when our Lord hath bestowed these benefites vpon my lord, thou shalt remember thy handmaide.non erit tibi hoc in singultum, et in scrupulum cordis domino meo, quod effuderis sanguinem innoxium, aut ipse te ultus fueris: et cum benefecerit Dominus domino meo, recordaberis ancillæ tuæ.
32And David said to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me, and blessed be thy speech:E David disse ad Abigail: Benedetto il Signore Dio d'Israele, il quale ti ha oggi mandata incontro a me, e benedetto il tuo parlare.And Dauid sayd to Abigail: Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel, who hath sent thee this day to meete me, and blessed be thy speach,Et ait David ad Abigail: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israël, qui misit hodie te in occursum meum, et benedictum eloquium tuum, 33And blessed be thou, who hast kept me to day from coming to blood, and revenging me with my own hand.E benedetta tu, la quale mi hai oggi impedito dallo spargere il sangue, e dal vendicarmi di mia mano.and blessed be thou, which hast stayed me to day, that I might not goe to blood, and reuenge me with myn owne hand.et benedicta tu, quæ prohibuisti me hodie ne irem ad sanguinem, et ulciscerer me manu mea. 34Otherwise, as the Lord liveth, the God of Israel, who hath withholden me from doing thee any evil, if thou hadst not quickly come to meet me, there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light, any that pisseth against the wall.Altrimenti (viva il Signore Dio d'Israele, che mi ha proibito di farti del male) se tu non fossi prontamente venuta incontro a me, non sarebbe rimaso di qui al mattino un cane di Nabal.Otherwise our Lord liueth the God of Israel, who hath staied me, that I should not doe thee any euil: vnles thou hadst quickely come to meete me, there had not remained to Nabal vntil morning light, any pissing against a wal.Alioquin vivit Dominus Deus Israël, qui prohibuit me ne malum facerem tibi: nisi cito venisses in occursum mihi, non remansisset Nabal usque ad lucem matutinam mingens ad parietem. 35And David received at her hand all that she had brought him, and said to her: Go in peace into thy house, behold I have heard thy voice, and honoured thy face.Quindi ricevè Davidde dalle mani di lei tutto quello che ella avea portato, e dissele: Vattene in pace a casa tua: tu vedi com'io ti ho esaudita, e ho avuto riguardo per te.And Dauid tooke of her hand al thinges which she had brought him, and said to her: Goe peaceable into thy house, behold I haue heard thy voice, and haue honoured thy face.Suscepit ergo David de manu ejus omnia quæ attulerat ei, dixitque ei: Vade pacifice in domum tuam: ecce audivi vocem tuam, et honoravi faciem tuam. 36And Abigail came to Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, like the feast of a king: and Nabal’s heart was merry, for he was very drunk: and she told him nothing less or more until morning.E Abigail tornò a casa di Nabal, e vide com'egli faceva banchetto in sua casa, quasi banchetto da re, e il cuore di Nabal era nell'allegria: perchè egli era zeppo di vino: ed ella non gli parlò, nè poco nè molto sino alla mattina.And Abigail came to Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, as it were the feast of a king, and Nabals hart was pleasant: for he was drunke excedingly: and she told him not a word little or great vntil morning.Venit autem Abigail ad Nabal: et ecce erat ei convivium in domo ejus quasi convivium regis, et cor Nabal jucundum: erat enim ebrius nimis: et non indicavit ei verbum pusillum aut grande usque mane.
37But early in the morning, when Nabal had digested his wine, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.Ma allo spuntar del dì avendo Nabal digerito il suo vino, la moglie diede a lui parte di quel che era stato, e si freddò a lui il cuore, ed ei rimase come un sasso.But early when Nabal had digested his wine, his wife told him these wordes, and his hart was dead inwardly, and he became as a stone.Diluculo autem cum digessisset vinum Nabal, indicavit ei uxor sua verba hæc: et emortuum est cor ejus intrinsecus, et factus est quasi lapis. 38And after ten days had passed, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.E di lì a dieci giorni il Signore punì Nabal, e si morì.And when ten dayes had passed, our Lord stroke Nabal, and he died.Cumque pertransissent decem dies, percussit Dominus Nabal, et mortuus est. 39And when David had heard that Nabal was dead, he said: Blessed be the Lord, who hath judged the cause of my reproach, at the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil, and the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his head. Then David sent and treated with Abigail, that he might take her to himself for a wife.E David avendo udito come era morto Nabal, disse: Benedetto il Signore, il quale ha giudicato la causa degl'insulti fattimi da Nabal, e ha preservato il suo servo dal fare del male, e la malizia di Nabal l'ha fatta il Signore ricadere sulla sua testa. E David mandò a parlare ad Abigail per prenderla in moglie.Which when Dauid had heard that Nabal was dead, he sayd: Blessed be our Lord, who hath iudged the cause of my reproch at the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his seruant from euil, and the malice of Nabal hath our Lord rendred vpon his head. Dauid therefore sent, and spake to Abigail, that he might take her to himselfe to wife.Quod cum audisset David mortuum Nabal, ait: Benedictus Dominus, qui judicavit causam opprobrii mei de manu Nabal, et servum suum custodivit a malo, et malitiam Nabal reddidit Dominus in caput ejus. Misit ergo David, et locutus est ad Abigail, ut sumeret eam sibi in uxorem. 40And David’s servants came to Abigail, to Carmel, and spoke to her, saying: David hath sent us to thee, to take thee to himself for a wife.E andarono i messi di David a trovare Abigail sul Carmelo, e le parlarono, e dissero: David ci ha mandati a te, perchè vuol prenderti in moglie.And Dauids seruantes came to Abigail into Carmel, and spake to her, saing: Dauid hath sent vs vnto thee, to take thee to his wife.Et venerunt pueri David ad Abigail in Carmelum, et locuti sunt ad eam, dicentes: David misit nos ad te, ut accipiat te sibi in uxorem.
41And she arose, and bowed herself down with her face to the earth, and said: Behold, let thy servant be a handmaid, to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.Ed ella alzatasi s'inchinò fino a toccar terra, e disse: Sia pure la tua serva in luogo di schiava per lavare i piedi de' servi del mio signore.Who arising adored flat toward the earth, and sayd: Loe let thy seruant be as an handmaide, to wash the feete of the seruantes of my lord.Quæ consurgens, adoravit prona in terram, et ait: Ecce famula tua sit in ancillam, ut lavet pedes servorum domini mei. 42And Abigail arose, and made haste, and got upon an ass, and five damsels went with her, her waiting maids, and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife.E Abigail si mosse in fretta, e montò sull'asino, e andarono con lei cinque fanciulle che la servivano, e seguì i messi di David, e divenne sua moglie.And Abigail arose, and made hast, and gatte vpon an asse, and fiue wemen went with her waiting maides, and folowed the messengers of Dauid, and became his wife.Et festinavit, et surrexit Abigail, et ascendit super asinum, et quinque puellæ ierunt cum ea, pedissequæ ejus, et secuta est nuntios David: et facta est illi uxor. 43Moreover David took also Achinoam of Jezrahel: and they were both of them his wives.David parimente prese Achinoam (che era) di Jezrael: e furono l'una, e l'altra sue consorti.Yea and Achinoam also did Dauid take of Iezrahel: and both were his wiues.Sed et Achinoam accepit David de Jezraël: et fuit utraque uxor ejus. 44But Saul gave Michol, his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti, the son of Lais, who was of Gallim.E Saul diede la sua figlia Michol moglie di David, a Phalti figliuolo di Lais, che era di Gallim.But Saul gaue Michol his daughter Dauids wife to Phalti, the sonne of Lais, who was of Gallim.Saul autem dedit Michol filiam suam, uxorem David, Phalti filio Lais, qui erat de Gallim.
25:1
Year of the World 2947, Year before Christ 1057.; 1 Kings xxviii.
Menochius
Others believe about two years; and suppose that he was 98 years old, twenty of which he had been judge: (Calmet) Salien says 38, and that he lived seventy-seven years. (Menochius)
Calmet
On all these points the learned are divided, 1 Kings 7:15. They are more unanimous in praising (Haydock) the conduct of this most holy statesman. Grotius compares him with Aristides. (Calmet)
Haydock
But he Holy Ghost gives Samuel a far more glorious character, Ecclesiasticus 46:16., etc. (Haydock)
Both he and his mother are figures of the two testaments. Anna becomes fruitful
Haydock
Samuel is substituted in the place of Heli. The sterility of Anna represents the incapacity of the Synagogue, to produce living and virtuous children. She bears Samuel, the figure of Jesus Christ, who reunites in his person the royal and the sacerdotal dignity. But under another point of view, Samuel, how perfect soever, must give place to the more perfect David, the glorious type of Jesus Christ, and thus the Synagogue, notwithstanding all her prerogatives, must yield to the Church. See St. Augustine, de C.[City of God?] 17:1, 4. Many of the ancients have looked upon Samuel as the high priest: but the generality have acknowledged that he was only a Levite, (Calmet) or an extraordinary priest, like Moses. (Haydock)
Salien
All Israel, or many from every tribe, assembled to attend his funeral; (Tirinus) and all mourned for him, as they had done for Moses and Aaron. (Salien)
Haydock
House, or among his kindred, (Tirinus) in a place which he had chosen for his tomb. This is called the house of the wicked for ever; but the just raise their hopes much higher, and await a more splendid palace above, and a glorious resurrection. (Haydock)
Calmet
They would not bury Samuel in his dwelling-house, as it could not then be entered without incurring an uncleanness. (Calmet)
Tirinus
His bones were translated with great respect to Constantinople, and a noble mausoleum was built for them by the emperor Justinian. (Procop. v.; St. Jerome, contra Vigil.) (Tirinus)
25:2
Haydock
Maon. Vatican Septuagint has the same word in the preceding verse, instead of Pharan. (Haydock)
Calmet
Possessions. Hebrew, "work." Cattle then formed the chief source of riches. Carmel and Maon were not far from Pharan, in Arabia. (Calmet)
25:3
Haydock
Caleb, the famous companion of Josue. His name means, "a dog;" whence the Septuagint, "he was a Cynic." Josephus, "he followed the manners of the Cynics," who were remarkable for their impudence, like dogs. Caleb was of the same tribe as David, and ought to have been more favourable to him on that account, ver. 6. (Haydock)
25:7
Molested them. This deserved some acknowledgment, as they might have done it with impunity. But David had also been of service to Nabal's men, as one of them told Abigail, ver. 16---21.
25:8
Good day, set aside for rejoicing, when the sheep were shorn, 2 Kings 13:24.
25:10
Calmet
Masters. As if he had said, you and David are but fugitive slaves. (Calmet)
Haydock
He might also insinuate, that David encouraged such practices, 1 Kings 22:2. (Haydock)
25:11
Water, under which name all sorts of drink are included. Nabal had plenty of wine, and was much intoxicated, ver. 36. Septuagint translate, "wine." Syriac and Arabic, "drink."
Cattle. Hebrew, "victim," which is a term used both for sacred and profane feasts.
25:14
Rejected them. Hebrew, "flew against them." Chaldean, "saw them with disgust."
25:17
Determined, and as if it had already taken place, 1 Kings 20:7.
25:18
Raisins. Hebrew tsimmukim, "dried raisins," or clusters of an extraordinary size. Roger speaks of some gathered in the vale of Sorec, which weighed 25.5 pounds. (the year of the Lord 1634.) Septuagint, "a gomer of dry raisins." Syriac and Arabic, "a hundred cheeses."
Menochius
Cakes. Chaldean, "pounds." Hebrew is imperfect, two hundred....of figs. We must supply (Calmet) cakes, with the Protestants, etc., or pounds, with the Chaldean, (Haydock) as each of the cakes perhaps weighed so much. (Menochius)
25:19
Calmet
Nabal. Knowing his churlish temper, and that he was drunk at this time, (ver. 36.; Haydock) she might be well excused from the ordinary laws which forbid a wife to dispose of her husband's property, without his consent. The emergency left no time for consultation. She gave a part to save the whole. (Calmet)
25:20
Foot. Hebrew, "in the obscurity," or road covered with trees. Septuagint, "in the shade." Chaldean, "on the side." David was descending from the mountains of Pharan, at the same time.
25:22
The enemies, is left out in some editions of the Septuagint. But David wishes all evils to himself, though, to avoid the ominous expression, he specifies his enemies, if he do not punish Nabal.
Challoner
Leave. David certainly sinned in his designs against Nabal and his family, as he himself was afterwards sensible, when he blessed God for hindering him from executing the revenge he had proposed. (Challoner)
Calmet
All. Chaldean, "any one who is come to the use of reason." Syriac and Arabic, "the least thing hanging upon the wall." I will destroy the guilty, and plunder all the valuable effects. (Calmet)
Haydock
But the Hebrew, Septuagint, etc., agree with the Vulgate and the meaning is, either that every man, or that every dog, and even the meanest things, should be enveloped in the general ruin. (Haydock)
Haydock
The manners of men vary, but those of dogs are always the same. Hence, it is more generally supposed that this expression (Calmet) denotes that even dogs shall be exterminated, and consequently other things for which Nabal would have a greater affection. (Haydock)
Calmet
Aurelian being irritated against the inhabitants of Thiane, swore, "I will not leave a dog in this town;" which all people explained as if he meant to leave nothing alive in it. But being afterwards moved with compassion at the distress of the people, he executed his threat literally, and killed all the dogs. (Vopisc.) See 3 Kings 14:10., and 15:29., and 21:21., and 4 Kings 5:6. (Bochart, Anim. 2:55.; Delrio, adag. 184.) (Calmet)
Haydock
The unhappy Geddes translates, "a dog," to avoid the indelicate allusion. It would have been well if he had allowed himself no greater liberties! (Haydock)
Menochius
The Hebrew mashtin, may denote a shepherd's or a mastiff dog. (Menochius)
25:24
Calmet
Iniquity, or the punishment of this fault, ver. 28. (Calmet)
Haydock
She wishes to divest the mind of David from the consideration of her husband's incivility; and, after condemning it herself, insinuates that it would be unbecoming for a great king to mind so insignificant an enemy, ver. 28. (Haydock)
Tirinus
Thus the emperor Adrian, and Louis XII, would not resent the affronts which they had received before they were raised to that high dignity. (Tirinus)
25:25
Haydock
The king, is not in Hebrew, Septuagint, etc. David's title was not yet publicly acknowledged. (Calmet) ---But Abigail plainly alludes to it, ver. 28. (Haydock)
Calmet
Name. Nabal, in Hebrew, signifies a fool. (Calmet)
Thus she extenuates his fault, by attributing it to a deficiency in understanding.
25:26
Calmet
To thee. She felicitates David on not having put his design in execution. (Calmet)
Tirinus
Theodoret thinks he might lawfully have done it; but others believe that the fault bore no proportion with the intended punishment. (Tirinus)
Calmet
As Nabal, devoid of sense. Abigail displays the eloquence of nature. (Calmet)
25:27
Calmet
Blessing, or present. (Menochius) See 2 Corinthians 9:5. (Calmet)
25:28
Haydock
House. Thy family shall long continue in the enjoyment of the royal power. Chaldean, "an established kingdom." (Haydock)
Lord, as his general.
Calmet
Evil. Do no manner of injustice. Hebrew, "and evil hast not been found," etc. Hitherto thy life has been irreproachable. (Calmet)
25:29
Worthington
Bundle. Such things are more secure than those which are loose. (Worthington)
Calmet
Of the living, or predestinate, over whom Providence watches in a particular manner. She seems to allude to the method of carrying pieces of silver in bundles, Proverbs 7:20. Chaldean, "the soul of my lord shall be in the treasury of the lives of the age, before the Lord God." (Calmet)
It shall be preserved for length of days, like something most precious, (Haydock) while the wicked shall be in continual danger and anxiety, like a stone in a sling, Zacharias 9:15. By substituting c for b in Hebrew, the sense may be still more striking: "the soul of my lord shall be preserved like a living (precious, serviceable,) stone. But the soul of thy enemies shall be whirled in a sling." The Hebrews had a great esteem for slingers, so that this comparison would be sufficiently noble. A living stone is often mentioned both is sacred and in profane authors, 1 Peter 2:4. (Virgil, Aeneid 1:171.) Vivoque sedilia saxo.
25:30
Israel, a thing which all expected, and even Saul himself, 1 Kings 24:21.
25:31
Grotius
Scruple. Hebrew, "scandal," or sin, for David might defend himself, but ought not to attack or take revenge, like a king. (Grotius)
Calmet
Innocent. Many of Nabal's family were such, and even his fault did not deserve death. Hebrew, "shed blood without cause." (Calmet)
Menochius
Handmaid, who has suggested this good advice. (Menochius)
David was so much pleased with her prudence and beauty, that he afterwards married her.
25:32
Calmet
Speech. Hebrew, "advice, or wisdom." Septuagint, "conduct." (Calmet)
25:35
Haydock
Face. I have been pleased with thy coming, and granted thy request. (Haydock)
Calmet
David had sworn with too much haste. (Calmet)
St. Ambrose
"It is sometimes wrong to perform what has been promised, and to keep an oath." (St. Ambrose, Off. 1:C. ult.[last chapter])
25:36
Calmet
Morning. Admirable pattern of discretion, and how reprimands may be made with advantage. (Calmet)
A medicine given at an improper time often does harm. (Pliny, [Natural History?] 17:27.) When a person said to Cleostratus, "Are you not ashamed to get drunk?" he replied, "Are you not ashamed to rebuke a drunken man?"
25:37
Tirinus
Stone. Stupified at the thought of the imminent danger to which he had foolishly exposed himself. So the poets represent Niobe as metamorphosed into a stone, at hearing of her children's death. (Tirinus)
Josephus intimates that Nabal was killed by the malignant influence of the stars, sideratus. (Antiquities, 6:14.) Thus, says he, David "learnt that no wicked person can escape the vengeance of God, and that Providence does not neglect human affairs, and abandon them to chance."
25:39
Blessed be, etc. David praises God on this occasion, not out of joy for the death of Nabal, (which would have argued a rancour of heart) but because he saw that God had so visibly taken his cause in hand, in punishing the injury done to him; whilst, by a merciful providence, he kept him from revenging himself. (Challoner) (Psalm 57:10.)
25:41
Haydock
Thy servant. She speaks to David's representatives, as if he had been present. (Haydock)
Menochius
The marriage was proposed probably a month or two after the death of Nabal; and Abigail followed the messengers, in a short time. (Menochius)
25:43
Menochius
Took, or "had taken before," according to Josephus. Hence she is placed first, (Calmet) as the mother of David's first-born, Amnon, 2 Kings 3:2. (Menochius)
Haydock
Michol, whom he married first, had no children. (Haydock)
Jezrahel, a city of Juda. (Menochius) (Josue 15:56.)
There was another more famous place of this name is Issachar.
25:44
Calmet
Phalti, or Phaltiel, 2 Kings 3:15. Saul violated all laws by so doing, and David took her back when he came to the throne, which he could not have done if he had given her a bill of divorce, Deuteronomy 24:4. (Calmet)
Menochius
Michol was not blameless in living thus with another man. (Menochius)
Horn in Sulp
The Rabbins say that a sword hindered Phalti from approaching her. (Horn in Sulp.)
Calmet
Gallim, a city of Benjamin, Isaias 10:30. (Calmet)
25:22
25:25
His name.... Nabal, in Hebrew, signifies a fool.
25:39
Blessed be, etc.... David praiseth God, on this occasion, not out of joy for the death of Nabal (which would have argued a rancour of heart), but because he saw that God had so visibly taken his cause in hand, in punishing the injury done to him; whilst, by a merciful providence he kept him from revenging himself.
25:17
Not a malicious mind, such as Saul bore vniustly against Dauid; but punishmēt is decreed against Nabal, for not only denying a reasonable request, but also for so reprochful an answer.
25:21
Euil wordes for curteous vsage heret o sore, and for late gentil intreating by messengers.
25:29
Things tyed in bundels are stronger and more secure, then single and loose.
25:1
Theodoret of Cyrus † AD 458 Dialogues. The “Eranistes” or “Polymorphus” of the Blessed Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus 3
… and we constantly do just the same. In this place, we say, such an one was buried; not the body of such an one. Every one in his senses knows that we are speaking of the body, and such a mode of speech is customary in divine Scripture. Aaron, we read, died and they buried him on Mount Hor. Samuel died and they buried him at Ramah,
25:10
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 5
Would you see the flattery of the foolish Jews? listen to them, saying, “We have no king but Cæsar.” ( John xix. 15 .) Would you see humility? listen to Paul again, when he says, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” ( 2 Cor. iv. 5 .) Would you see both flattery and audacity? “Audacity” (
25:22
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Against Lying 21
… These things, when we read in holy Scriptures, we must not, for that we believe them done, therefore believe them meet to be done; lest we violate precepts while we indis criminately follow precedents. Or, truly, because David swore to put Nabal to death, and, upon more considerate clemency, did it not,
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 17.25
… “As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst not quickly come to meet me there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light a single male.”
25:37
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.16
… But to a mind that is drunk with fury every right thing that is said appears wrong. Whence to Nabal when he was drunk Abigail laudably kept silence about his fault, but, when he had digested his wine, as laudably told him of it (
25:38
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 125.10
… Yet their cry came up to heaven and entering God’s ears overcame His patience. Wherefore, He sent an angel of woe to say to this new Carmelite, this second Nabal,
25:1
1. NOW SAMUEL WAS DEAD. — In what year of Saul's reign Samuel died is not sufficiently clear. For Samuel and Saul together presided over Israel for 40 years: some distribute these years thus, giving 20 to Samuel and 20 to Saul; others give only two from chapter 13, verse 1, to Saul, others ten, others eighteen, the rest to Samuel. Others, more probably with Salianus, give Samuel 22 years, the remaining eighteen to Saul. Again, how many years after Saul was made king Samuel survived is not established. Salianus probably opines that he survived sixteen years; and died two years before Saul in the 77th year of his age, which is supported by Clement of Alexandria, Rufinus, Bede, Abulensis and Josephus, whom he himself cites. For Saul died in the 18th year of his reign. AND ALL ISRAEL WAS GATHERED TOGETHER, AND MOURNED FOR HIM AND BURIED HIM IN HIS HOUSE IN RAMATHA. — See here the love and reverence of all the people toward Samuel as their Judge, Prophet and author of all good. Moreover, the bones of Samuel under the Emperor Arcadius, in the year of the Lord 406, from Judaea, with great pomp and devotion of the Emperor and people, were transferred to Constantinople. Whence St. Jerome, writing against Vigilantius (whom our heretics follow), teaches that his and the other Saints' relics or remains are to be venerated by the faithful. Hear St. Jerome: "Now Augustus Arcadius is to be called a sacrilegist, who after a long time transferred the bones of Blessed Samuel from Judaea to Thrace? All Bishops are to be judged not only sacrilegists, but also fools, who carried a most vile thing and dissolved ashes in silk and a golden vessel? Fools of all the Churches, who went forth to meet the holy relics, and were gladdened with such great joy, as if they beheld and perceived the Prophet himself present and living, so that from Palestine even to Chalcedon crowds of peoples were joined together, and in the praise of Christ resounded with one voice?" AND HIS POSSESSION WAS IN CARMEL. — There were two mountains in Israel called Carmel. One famous in the tribe of Issachar near the sea, distant from Ptolemais 120 stadia, abounding in vineyards, olives and other fragrant trees. Another mountain, and in the mountain a city in the tribe of Judah, fertile in pastures, fruits and herbs, and producing most delicious wine. In this likewise dwelt and had his possessions Nabal.
25:6
6. MAY PEACE BE WITH ALL THAT THOU HAST. — This was a customary greeting in that age, by which in saying "Peace be to thee and thine" they wished all good things upon the one greeted; for peace brings with it all prosperity, fertility, abundance of things, and every good; just as war brings all adversities in its train.
25:8
8. ON A GOOD DAY WE COME, as if to say: We come on a joyful day, on which thou shearest thy sheep, and exercisest liberality toward the shearers by giving them a splendid feast: we pray therefore that thou wouldst make us poor and hungry, as it were thy neighbors, friends and defenders, partakers of this thy joy and feast.
25:10
10. THIS DAY HAVE THE SERVANTS INCREASED THAT FLEE FROM THEIR MASTERS, as if to say: This day David, who is the servant of Saul, hath increased in boldness, so as to dare to set himself against his king, and to lead an army against him and to seek his kingdom. This was a grievous calumny and injury which Nabal cast upon David.
25:14
14. THAT THEY MAY BLESS, that they may greet, that they may pray good and favorable things.
25:16
16. THEY WERE TO US AS A WALL, that is, they defended us from the incursion of enemies. Justly therefore did David demand provisions from them: for citizens ought to support soldiers in garrison, who guard them and their goods against enemies and defend them.
25:17
17. HIS WICKEDNESS IS COMPLETED, that is, the evil and sharp vengeance decreed by David, and fully and certainly conceived by him, threatens thy husband and thy house. HE IS A SON OF BELIAL, that is, covetous, ungrateful, harsh, malicious and most wicked, as was said in verse 3. Belial properly means the same as without a yoke, unbridled, untamed, as if to say: Nabal, stiff-necked, hath refused to hear our good suggestions concerning the vengeance of David prepared for him. Wherefore we suggest the same to thee, who art a wise and docile woman, that thou mayest avert it from thyself and thy house.
25:18
18. ABIGAIL THEREFORE MADE HASTE, that she might prevent David coming in anger and threatening destruction with her kindness, and might soften him with her eloquence: and thus she might expiate the inhumanity of Nabal her husband. Hence Abigail was aptly named, that is, father of exultation, as Pagninus saith, because she herself, leaping up, brought forth exultation both to David and to all her house; and she did this with manly prudence and fortitude as a virago, so that she seemed to be not so much a mother as a father. FIVE MEASURES OF PARCHED CORN. — A measure was a kind of measure, containing twenty-six pounds, that is, three hundred and twenty ounces. AND A HUNDRED CLUSTERS OF DRIED GRAPES, that is, a hundred bundles of grapes dried in an oven or in the sun. AND TWO HUNDRED CAKES OF FIGS, that is, of figs dried or dried in the sun, from which are made cakes of figs, and forms like cheeses.
25:22
22. MAY GOD DO SO AND SO TO THE ENEMIES OF DAVID, that is, to David himself, otherwise this imprecation would be ridiculous. It is a euphemism. For David here swears with an execratory oath after the manner of the common people: but the common people dare not in swearing imprecate evils upon themselves, because they anxiously fear that if they imprecate any evil upon themselves, it will truly befall them: they therefore swear by imprecating evil upon others, but by others they understand themselves. Thus David imprecates evil upon "his enemies," that is, upon himself. So Abulensis. IF I LEAVE OF ALL THAT PERTAIN TO HIM TILL THE MORNING, ONE THAT PISSETH AGAINST THE WALL, as if David said: I swear that I will slay all in the house of Nabal before dawn; so that I will not leave even a dog alive in it. For dogs lift up their leg and piss against the wall, whereas other animals piss on the ground. David sinned by this oath, and would have sinned more grievously if he had actually fulfilled the oath: for in the house of Nabal there were many, indeed all, except himself, innocent. For Nabal alone had done the insult to David: for his servants had disliked his answer. Whence they reported it to Abigail, that she might correct it; yet Nabal deserved to be punished. Whence Theodoret, Questions lvii, saith that David justly wished to slay Nabal on account of the most unworthy reproaches and insults with which Nabal was actually assailing David. But David could have refuted and restrained these things in another way: wherefore it does not seem that he could have lawfully slain Nabal; because he was not yet king, so that he could condemn Nabal to death by public authority. He swore therefore in the impulse and fervor of youth and military spirit, carried away by anger and choler on account of the atrocity of the injury, but returning to himself, and his anger being calmed, he repented, and restrained his hand from slaughter, as is evident from what follows. Thus the Emperor Aurelian, when the Tyanensians closed their gates against him, said in anger: "I will not leave a dog in this city." When the city was taken, the soldiers, demanding the plunder of the city according to his promise, he answered: "Come, I said I would not leave a dog, slay all the dogs." And thus he satisfied his promise, and treated his enemies mercifully, as Flavius Vopiscus saith in his life of Aurelian.
25:24
24. UPON ME, MY LORD, BE THIS INIQUITY, as if to say: Impute to me the iniquity of my husband Nabal, not to him: for he is foolish, and knoweth not what he doeth; blame me therefore who am his wife, punish me, I will pay for what he hath sinned.
25:25
25. LET NOT, I PRAY, MY LORD THE KING (anointed by Samuel as king, although you have not yet entered into the possession of the kingdom) SET HIS HEART UPON THIS WICKED MAN NABAL. FOR ACCORDING TO HIS NAME HE IS A FOOL. — For Nabal in Hebrew is the same as fool, or bad and malicious, or a worthless man, as if to say: Do not seize upon it, do not concern yourself, do not be afflicted, do not be angry at Nabal on account of his inhumanity and the insults which he has cast upon you; because he himself is truly Nabal, that is, a fool; but no one cares for the jeers and reproaches of a fool and a madman; because a fool lacks reason like a brute beast, and knows not what he does and says. Tropologically, the king urges this, St. Ambrose in Psalm 118, sermon 14, as if to say: You, O David, are a king; therefore rule your passions, restrain your anger, subdue your vengeance. For, as St. Ambrose says: "Whoever has subdued his own body, and has not permitted his soul as its ruler to be disturbed by its passions with fitting liveliness; he, restraining himself with a certain royal power, is called a king: because he knows how to rule himself, is master of his own right; lest he be dragged captive into guilt, nor be hurled headlong into vice. His soul does not perish eternally; nor does anyone snatch it from the hand of the almighty Father or the Son. For the hand of God which solidified heaven, those whom it has held, it does not lose."
25:26
26. AS THE LORD LIVETH, AND THY SOUL LIVETH, as if to say: I swear by the life of God and by your life that I speak the truth, and that the matter has been done as I have said, namely, that I have not seen your servants, nor have I been aware of the inhumanity exercised by Nabal toward you. AND THE LORD HATH WITHHOLDEN THY HAND FROM ME, as if to say: God restrained your hand, lest you by it should defile yourself with the slaughter and blood of the innocent sons and servants of mine. AND NOW LET THY ENEMIES, AND THOSE THAT SEEK EVIL TO MY LORD, BE AS NABAL, as if to say: As Nabal is in your power and mercy, so may all your enemies be subject to you, and be forced to implore your grace and mercy, as I implore the same for Nabal. Thus Cajetan.
25:27
27. RECEIVE THE BLESSING, that is, the benefit: or the gift of provisions, which I have brought to you and yours.
25:28
28. TAKE AWAY THE INIQUITY OF THY HANDMAID; as if to say: Forgive and pardon the iniquity of Nabal my husband, which I desire to be transferred upon me, so that I may pay the penalty of his guilt. A SURE HOUSE, that is, a family, a line and posterity firm and stable; so that namely the sons and grandsons to be born from you may reign in Israel in continuous succession, with the posterity of Saul excluded on account of his iniquity. NEITHER SHALL THERE BE IN THEE ANY EVIL. — "Evil," that is, sin, and vengeance which is unbecoming to the royal person, to which you are destined by God, and which would hinder you from the kingdom: for all desire a merciful king and one forgetful of injury, not one mindful and desirous of vengeance.
25:29
29. WHEN THE LORD THEREFORE SHALL HAVE DONE TO THEE ALL THE GOOD THAT HE HATH SPOKEN CONCERNING THEE, AND SHALL HAVE MADE THEE PRINCE OVER ISRAEL, THIS SHALL NOT BE TO THEE AN OCCASION OF SORROW, AND OF A TROUBLED MIND TO MY LORD, THAT THOU HAST SHED BLOOD WITHOUT CAUSE, OR HAST REVENGED THYSELF: AND WHEN THE LORD SHALL HAVE DONE WELL BY THEE, THOU SHALT REMEMBER THY HANDMAID, as if to say: If you pardon life to Nabal your enemy, when he himself by his insults to you deserves death; God will repay you a fitting reward, so that in turn he may protect your life against all who persecute you, and especially against Saul, and may keep it secure and long-lived for a very long time: for a thing hidden "in a bundle," or in a binding "of the living," namely by which lives or the living are bound, is hidden for this reason so that it may be kept unharmed among the living; but a thing which is placed in a sling, is placed in it for this reason, so that the sling may cast it out and hurl it: in a similar manner therefore may God whirl as in a sling the life of your enemies, so that the soul may be expelled and driven from their body, and may cause them to die. Thus Cajetan. Allegorically and tropologically: A bundle of the living is a catalogue, or rather a gathering and council of the Saints, God's friends, and the elect unto eternal life (conversely, a bundle of the dying is a catalogue of the damned unto eternal death). Moreover Sebastian Munster, although a heretic, brings forward here something worthy of note for the suffrages of the dead, and the ancient rite of praying for the dead: By a bundle, he says, the Hebrews understand the throne of majesty, under which they say the souls of the just rest in another age. Hence also it is, that in their tombs they commonly inscribe this sentence: "May his soul be in the bundle of the living;" just as "may his soul rest," etc. Morally: Note here the ways by which Abigail broke the kindled anger of David, and restrained him from slaughter, which we should imitate, so that we may extinguish and quell the fury of the raging as if by poured water: for first she offered to David many and ample gifts which Nabal had denied, and therefore had moved David's anger: for gifts soothe anger and procure love; second, she greatly humbled herself by prostrating herself on the ground before David, by which humiliation she wiped away the proud answer of Nabal, by which he had irritated David; third, she brings forward wise and gentle reasons, by which she showed David how harmful anger and vengeance would be to him, and how salutary and advantageous to him would be its forgetting and pardoning.
25:34
34. AND WHEN THE LORD SHALL HAVE DEALT WELL WITH MY LORD, (namely with you, so that he may raise you to the kingdom), YOU SHALL REMEMBER YOUR HANDMAID, so that namely you may deal well with me; Abigail seems to presage and tacitly to request that she be taken as a wife of David, and become queen to him as king.
25:37
37. HIS WIFE TOLD HIM THESE WORDS, AND HIS HEART DIED WITHIN HIM, as if to say: Nabal was struck with fear of David, and as if dead; for he himself, being conscious of his wrongdoing, hearing David's just anger against him, feared lest he would pour it all out upon him alone: for he thought that for this reason David had spared Abigail and his innocent household, so that he might seek the guilty head, that is Nabal.
25:38
38. THE LORD SMOTE NABAL, he sent upon him a lethal disease, which would bring him sudden death.
25:39
39. TO ABIGAIL, THAT HE MIGHT TAKE HER TO HIMSELF AS A WIFE. — David taking Abigail represented Christ, who espoused to himself the Church from the Gentiles. "For she indeed, having lost the husband to whom she was formerly joined, passed over to Christ, rich in pious wealth, endowed with the patrimony of humility and faith, and also of mercy, etc., to whom the bridegroom brings joy and grace, cleansing her of all the impediments to her beauty," says St. Ambrose, epistle 35 to Irenaeus.
25:41
41. BEHOLD YOUR HANDMAID, LET HER BE A MAIDSERVANT TO WASH THE FEET OF THE SERVANTS OF MY LORD. — Abigail addresses the absent David, as if present in the messengers sent by him, and calls herself his handmaid and maidservant: and by this humility of hers she merited to become his wife and queen of Israel. Whence she was a type of the Blessed Virgin, who, chosen by God as a bride, and by the Word in becoming incarnate in her as a mother, said to Gabriel the Archangel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word." And therefore she herself, made the handmaid of God, became the mother of God.
25:44
44. BUT SAUL GAVE MICHAL HIS DAUGHTER, THE WIFE OF DAVID, TO PHALTI THE SON OF LAISH. — The Rabbis relate, or rather after their custom fabricate, that Phalti did not know Michal, because a sword lay between him and Michal, and therefore she remained undefiled without children.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
25:1
… Lk. 23:51; Jn. 19:38). On the basis of the data of Eusebius and St. Jerome (Onomasticon, 144, 28; ed. Klostermann, p. 32) it is today identified with Rentijah (Rentis), 12 km northeast of Lydda, which is the Ramah (v.) of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1, 19; 2:11; 25:1) or Râmôth and Râmâthajim. …
… The place is known above all for the exploits of David pursued by Saul (1 Sam. 23:24-28) and for his conflict with Nabal the Calebite, whose wife Abigail he later married (ibid. 25:1-42).
David, persecuted by Saul, took refuge there after the death of Samuel (I Sam. 25, 1); the Idumean Hadad too, fleeing from Joab toward Egypt, crossed the desert and led with him many inhabitants of the country (I Reg. 11, 17 ff.).
… He died very old (ibid. 25:1), and, after death, appeared to Saul, who wished to know the outcome of the battle of Gilboa, foretelling to him defeat and death (ibid. 28:6-19).
25:2
… The neghebh was ceded to Simeon (Josh. 19:2-7). A fertile territory, famous for its vineyards (Num. 13:13, 25; Song 1:13; II Chron. 26:10; cf. Gen. 49:11 ff.), for its extensive pastures and numerous flocks (I Sam. 25:2; Am. 1:1 ff.). …
25:6
Rama (Heb. Hā-Rāmāh = "The Height")
1. R. in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 18:25) on the Jerusalem-Bethel road (Judg. 4:5), north of Gibeah (Judg. 19:13; 1 Sam. 25:6), an outpost to the south of the Kingdom of Israel and fortified by King Baasha (1 Kings 15:17; 2 Chron. 15:1-6). After the fall of Jerusalem it became a collection center for prisoners …
25:17
… genitive of qualification or destination: "son of b." (cf. "son of iniquity": II Sam. 3, 34; 7, 10; Ps. 88, 23; "son of death": I Sam. 20, 31; 26, 16; II Sam. 12, 5); Deut. 13, 13 (Heb. 14); Iudc. 19, 22; 20, 13; I Sam. 1, 16; 2, 12; 10, 27; 25, 17; I Reg. 21, 10, 13; II Par. 13, 7, and "man of b." ('īl b. or hab-b. with the article [only 3 times]; cf. "man of death":
25:22
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… what is evil in the eyes of the Lord" (thirty times in the two books); "for the sake of David my servant" (I Reg. 13, 32, 34; 15, 4; II Reg. 8, 19; 19, 34; 20, 6); "mingens ad parietem" (I Reg. 14, 10; 16, 11; 21, 21; II Reg. 9, 8; elsewhere only in I Sam. 25, 22, 34).
25:24
… A.'s fine speech (I Sam. 25, 24-31) disarmed David. …
25:25
I Reg. 2, 26, "of iniquity": Iob. 34, 36); I Sam. 25, 25; 30, 22; II Sam. 16, 7; 20, 1; I Reg. 21, 13; Prov. 6, 12; 16, 27; 19, 28 (Eccli. 11, 32). Alone, used elliptically (for 'īl b.), b. is equivalent to "wicked" (II Sam. …
25:29
The f. is an ogre that does not release its prey (Prov. 1:12) without ransom: wealth is of no avail (cf. Mt. 16:26; Lk. 12:20), but with Yahweh "the bundle of the living" remains (I Sam. 25:29), and God delivers his faithful one from the f. (Ps. 48:15-18; I Sam. 2:6); he will not abandon him to the f. but will show him "the way of life" (Ps. 15:8-11) and will "take …
25:42
… 7; 16, 22; I Kings 2, 13-18). The personal property of the widow was limited to what she had brought with her upon marrying and to what her husband had given her. If she remarried, she did not take with her the property of her deceased husband (cf. I Sam. 25, 42); if she did not remarry, she could return to her father's house (cf. Lev. 22, 13) or remain with one of the
25:44
Michal (Hebrew Mikhāl: « Who is powerful? » [?]; « The Almighty » [?]; « Who like God? » [?])
… father's deadly searches by lowering him from a window; moreover, to delay the pursuit, she made him be believed, by a clever stratagem, to be sick in bed (ibid. 19:11-17). Then M. was given by her father, out of vengeance, as wife to a certain Phaltiel (ibid. 25:44). She later returned, when requested, to David as king in Hebron (ibid. 3:12-16), but, it seems, not so devoted as in the past. …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.