I Samuel 25
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
And Samuel died - Samuel lived, as is supposed, about ninety-eight years; was in the government of Israel before Saul from sixteen to twenty years; and ceased to live, according to the Jews, about four months before the death of Saul; but according to Calmet and others, two years. But all this is very uncertain; how long he died before Saul, cannot be ascertained. For some account of his character, see the end of the chapter, Sa1 25:44 (note). Buried him in his house - Probably this means, not his dwelling-house, but the house or tomb he had made for his sepulture; and thus the Syriac and Arabic seem to have understood it. David - went down to the wilderness of Paran - This was either on the confines of Judea, or in Arabia Petraea, between the mountains of Judah and Mount Sinai; it is evident from the history that it was not far from Carmel, on the south confines of Judah.
Open source ↗SAMUEL DIES. (Sa1 25:1-9) Samuel died--After a long life of piety and public usefulness, he left behind him a reputation which ranks him among the greatest of Scripture worthies. buried him in his house at Ramah--that is, his own mausoleum. The Hebrews took as great care to provide sepulchers anciently as people do in the East still, where every respectable family has its own house of the dead. Often this is in a little detached garden, containing a small stone building (where there is no rock), resembling a house, which is called the sepulcher of the family--it has neither door nor window. David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran--This removal had probably no connection with the prophet's death; but was probably occasioned by the necessity of seeking provision for his numerous followers. the wilderness of Paran--stretching from Sinai to the borders of Palestine in the southern territories of Judea. Like other wildernesses, it presented large tracts of natural pasture, to which the people sent their cattle at the grazing season, but where they were liable to constant and heavy depredations by prowling Arabs. David and his men earned their subsistence by making reprisals on the cattle of these freebooting Ishmaelites; and, frequently for their useful services, they obtained voluntary tokens of acknowledgment from the peaceful inhabitants.
Open source ↗And Samuel died,.... In the interval, when Saul and David were parted, and before they saw each other again; according to the Jewish chronology (g), Samuel died four months before Saul; but other Jewish writers say (h) he died seven months before; Abarbinel thinks it was a year or two before; which is most likely and indeed certain, since David was in the country of the Philistines after this a full year and four months, if the true sense of the phrase is expressed in Sa1 27:7; and Saul was not then dead; and so another Jewish chronologer (i) says, that Saul died two years after Samuel, to which agrees Clemens of Alexandria (k); and according to the Jews (l), he died the twentieth of Ijar, for which a fast was kept on that day: and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him; his death being a public loss, not only to the college of the prophets, over which he presided, but to the whole nation; and they had reason to lament his death, when they called to mind, the many good offices he had done them from his youth upwards; and when the government was in his hands, which was administered in the most prudent and faithful manner; and after that they had his wise counsel and advice, his good wishes and prayers for them; and the rather they had reason to lament him, since Saul their king proved so bad as he did, and at this time a difference was subsisting between David and him: and buried him in his house at Ramah; where he lived and died; not that he was buried in his house, properly so called, or within the walls of that building wherein he dwelt; though the Greeks (m) and Romans (n) used to bury in their own dwelling houses; hence sprung the idolatrous worship of the Lares, or household gods; but not the Hebrews, which their laws about uncleanness by grave…
Open source ↗The death of Samuel is inserted here, because it occurred at that time. The fact that all Israel assembled together to his burial, and lamented him, i.e., mourned for him, was a sign that his labours as a prophet were recognised by the whole nation as a blessing for Israel. Since the days of Moses and Joshua, no man had arisen to whom the covenant nation owed so much as to Samuel, who has been justly called the reformer and restorer of the theocracy. They buried him "in his house at Ramah." The expression "his house" does not mean his burial-place or family tomb, nor his native place, but the house in which he lived, with the court belonging to it, where Samuel was placed in a tomb erected especially for him. After the death of Samuel, David went down into the desert of Paran, i.e., into the northern portion of the desert of Arabia, which stretches up to the mountains of Judah (see at Num 10:12); most likely for no other reason than because he could no longer find sufficient means of subsistence for himself and his six hundred men in the desert of Judah.
Open source ↗We have here a short account of Samuel's death and burial. 1. Though he was a great man, and one that was admirably well qualified for public service, yet he spent the latter end of his days in retirement and obscurity, not because he was superannuated (for he knew how to preside in a college of the prophets, Sa1 19:20), but because Israel had rejected him, for which God thus justly chastised them, and because his desire was to be quiet and to enjoy himself and his God in the exercises of devotion now in his advanced years, and in this desire God graciously indulged him. Let old people be willing to rest themselves, though it look like burying themselves alive. 2. Though he was a firm friend to David, for which Saul hated him, as also for dealing plainly with him, yet he died in peace even in the worst of the days of the tyranny of Saul, who, he sometimes feared, would kill him, Sa1 16:2. Though Saul loved him not, yet he feared him, as Herod did John, and feared the people, for all knew him to be a prophet. Thus is Saul restrained from hurting him. 3. All Israel lamented him; and they had reason, for they had all a loss in him. His personal merits commanded this honour to be done him at his death. His former services to the public, when he judged Israel, made this respect to his name and memory a just debt; it would have been very ungrateful to have withheld it. The sons of the prophets had lost the founder and president of their college, and whatever weakened them was a public loss. But that was not all: Samuel was a constant intercessor for Israel, prayed daily for them, Joh 12:23. If he go, they part with the best friend they have. The loss is the more grievous at this juncture when Saul has grown so outrageous and David is driven from his country; never more need o…
Open source ↗25:1-44 This episode about Nabal falls between two accounts in which Saul pursued David and David spared Saul’s life. Nabal was similar to Saul. 25:1 Maon: This town in southern Judah (see study note on 23:24) was likely Nabal’s home. The wilderness of Paran, located in the northern half of the Sinai Peninsula, was too far south. The wilderness of Paran served as a place of refuge (Gen 21:21; 1 Kgs 11:18).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שְׁמוּאֵל (Shᵉmûwʼêl, H8050) — Shemuel, the name of three Israelites מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity קָבַץ (qâbats, H6908) — to grasp, i.e. collect סָפַד (çâphad, H5594) — properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as Orientals do in grief); generally to… קָבַר (qâbar, H6912) — to inter בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) רָמָה (Râmâh, H7414) — Ramah, the name of four places in Palestine דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… פָּארָן (Pâʼrân, H6290) — Paran, a desert of Arabia
Open source ↗אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… מָעוֹן (Mâʻôwn, H4584) — Maon, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… כַּרְמֶל (Karmel, H3760) — Karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in Palestine מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) עֵז (ʻêz, H5795) — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for… גַּזָז (gazâz, H1494) — to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an…
Open source ↗שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… נָבָל (Nâbâl, H5037) — Nabal, an Israelite אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman אֲבִיגַיִל (ʼĂbîygayil, H26) — Abigail or Abigal, the name of two Israelitesses טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… שֶׂכֶל (sekel, H7922) — intelligence; by implication, success יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) תֹּאַר (tôʼar, H8389) — outline, i.e. figure or appearance קָשֶׁה (qâsheh, H7186) — severe (in various applications) רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) מַעֲלָל (maʻălâl, H4611) — an act (good or bad) כָּלִבּוֹ (Kâlibbôw, H3614) — a Calebite or descendant of Caleb
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… נָבָל (Nâbâl, H5037) — Nabal, an Israelite גַּזָז (gazâz, H1494) — to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… כַּרְמֶל (Karmel, H3760) — Karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in Palestine בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) נָבָל (Nâbâl, H5037) — Nabal, an Israelite שָׁאַל (shâʼal, H7592) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… גַּזָז (gazâz, H1494) — to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an… רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… כָּלַם (kâlam, H3637) — properly, to wound; but only figuratively, to taunt or insult מְאוּמָה (mᵉʼûwmâh, H3972) — properly, a speck or point, i.e. (by implication) something; with negative, nothing פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… כַּרְמֶל (Karmel, H3760) — Karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in Palestine
Open source ↗שָׁאַל (shâʼal, H7592) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… חֵן (chên, H2580) — graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… נָבָל (Nâbâl, H5037) — Nabal, an Israelite דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and…
Open source ↗נָבָל (Nâbâl, H5037) — Nabal, an Israelite עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשַׁי (Yishay, H3448) — Jishai, David's father רָבַב (râbab, H7231) — properly, to cast together , i.e. increase, especially in number; to multiply by the… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… פָּרַץ (pârats, H6555) — to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen טִבְחָה (ṭibchâh, H2878) — {properly, something slaughtered; hence, a beast (or meat, as butchered); abstractly… טָבַח (ṭâbach, H2873) — to slaughter (animals or men) גַּזָז (gazâz, H1494) — to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,…
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) חָגַר (châgar, H2296) — to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… כְּלִי (kᵉlîy, H3627) — something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
Open source ↗אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… אֲבִיגַיִל (ʼĂbîygayil, H26) — Abigail or Abigal, the name of two Israelitesses נָבָל (Nâbâl, H5037) — Nabal, an Israelite אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) עִיט (ʻîyṭ, H5860) — to swoop down upon (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.
And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried at his palace. And his son Amon reigned in his place.
And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran.
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.
So at the consent of the LORD, Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran. All the men were leaders of the Israelites,
and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.