What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 25:10? But Nabal asked them “But Nabal asked them”. The messenger has barely finished speaking before Nabal fires back. His knee-jerk reply exposes a heart already set against generosity. • Earlier the chapter calls him “harsh and evil in his dealings” (1 Samuel 25:3), so the question is not information-seeking but contemptuous. • Proverbs 18:23 contrasts the gracious plea of the poor with the harsh answer of the rich—exactly what we witness here. • Nabal’s dismissive tone anticipates the fool in Psalm 14:1 who says in his heart, “There is no God,” living as though God’s servants deserve nothing. Who is David? “Who is David?”. By now David’s exploits against Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-50) and his victories under Saul (18:7, 30) are household news. Nabal’s “Who?” is deliberate disrespect. • Saul’s own servants sing David’s praises (21:11), and even Saul finally says, “You are more righteous than I” (24:17). Nabal cannot plead ignorance. • Rejecting God’s anointed never ends well—consider Pharaoh hardening his heart against Moses (Exodus 5:2). Nabal is walking the same perilous path. Who is this son of Jesse? “Who is this son of Jesse?”. The phrase echoes Saul’s scornful language (1 Samuel 20:27, 30), hinting that Nabal sides with the king who is hunting David. • By stressing David’s father’s name instead of David’s own, Nabal reduces him to “that boy from Bethlehem,” ignoring the anointing of 16:13. • Isaiah later celebrates “a shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1); Nabal’s sneer therefore stands in stark contrast to God’s honor. Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. “Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters”. Nabal brands David as a rebel, lumping him with runaway slaves. • In truth David left Saul to save his life (1 Samuel 19:10; 20:33); he consistently refuses to harm the king (24:6; 26:11). • Nabal’s accusation is slander, like the false rumor spread about Nehemiah’s motives (Nehemiah 6:6-8). • The statement also justifies his stinginess. By painting David as an outlaw, he excuses keeping his considerable wealth to himself—contrary to Leviticus 25:35’s call to help a brother in need. summary Nabal’s three contemptuous questions are not ignorance but insolence. He rejects the Lord’s anointed, belittles his lineage, and slanders his character to avoid showing kindness. His words reveal a heart hardened by pride and greed, setting the stage for the swift judgment that follows (1 Samuel 25:38). The verse warns us that scoffing at God’s servants and closing our hand against the needy invites divine correction, while humility and generosity—exemplified later by Abigail—align us with God’s purposes. |
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