Read 1 Samuel 25 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
25:1 {p} Samuel died and was buried at his home in Ramah
25:2-31 {s} Nabal refused to bless David, but Abigail made haste to do so
25:32-43 {s} The death of Nabal/ his widow Abigail becomes David’s wife
25:44-26:7 {s} Saul unrighteousness toward David/ the LORD delivered Saul into David’s hand
The Strong Themes:
24:16-25:1 {s+p} The death of Samuel after peace was established between Saul and David
1 Samuel 25:2-43 Chiastic Structure:
Let not my lord, I ask you, regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly attends him; but I, your handmaid, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 1 Sam 25:25
The name “Nabal” in Hebrew is Strong’s H5037, a proper name, from Strong’s H5036, the abstract concept of depraved foolishness; from Strong’s H5034 נבל nabal, a primitive verb meaning, “to become withered, to be foolish.”
nun נ ן = seed, thus continue, heir, son
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within
lamed ל = shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
According to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, the root of its meaning is found in the bet + lamed pair, which is the heart of the verb, “to flow.” The home (bet) is the center of authority (lamed), the source from which life flows. River, another cognate word, encapsulates the same idea of life-giving water flowing from its source. The negative spin on the verb is “nothing,” as when water is poured out and it flows away until nothing is left. So the Hebrew Root Word parable is telling of the seed (nun) which flows (bet + lamed) to no result, a vain or empty thing.
In contrast, Abigail is described as a woman of good understanding, and beautiful form (vs. 3). Understanding in Hebrew is Strong’s H7922, an abstract concept, from Strong’s H7919, שכל shakal, a primitive verb meaning, “to be prudent, to wisely understand.” The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon defines it as, “the ability to consider a situation with comprehension in order to be successful or prosperous.”
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
kaph כ ך = the open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
lamed ל = the shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
The parable is telling of pressing in (shin) and taming (kaph) that which is unruly, gaining mastery (lamed) over it. So a wise man presses into chaotic thoughts, discourse, or policy; a wise husbandman gains mastery over an unruly landscape or wild creatures; a prudent craftsman brings a thing of beauty from common clay or other raw materials, and a prudent businessman presses into an organic economy to harness it to his profit.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
February 22, 2021 Bible Reading Notes on nabal and shakal – Christine Miller
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