1 Samuel 25:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.

NIV: As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them.

NASB: And it happened as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them.

CSB: As she rode the donkey down a mountain pass hidden from view, she saw David and his men coming toward her and met them.

NLT: As she was riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming toward her.

KJV: And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

NKJV: So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them.

First Samuel 25:14–22 records Abigail's plan. A servant warns her that David's men have protected her husband's shepherds well. But Nabal, her foolish spouse, refuses to reward them and speaks with insults. Both the servant and Abigail suspect David will respond to this dishonor immediately and with violence. She orders servants to take a feast to David while she rides behind. Meanwhile, David and 400 men get closer, determined to kill every male on the estate. When they meet, David accepts Abigail's gift and her humble rebuke, and Nabal and the servants are saved (1 Samuel 25:23–35).

David learns to give grace to people other than King Saul. Samuel dies, and Saul temporarily leaves David alone. David and his men protect the shepherds of the foolish Nabal. When Nabal refuses to reward David, David vows revenge on him and all his male servants. Nabal's wife, Abigail, rushes to David with food and a warning that David shouldn't carry the shame of killing Nabal and the servants when he becomes king. David listens, Nabal dies, and David marries Abigail. Soon the truce will end, and David will meet Saul one last time (1 Samuel 26).

David spared Saul's life, and the grateful king gives David some peace (1 Samuel 24). God has protected David numerous times from having to fight Saul. When a wealthy fool insults David, only the fool's wife, Abigail, keeps David from destroying the entire estate. Once again, God has kept David from needless bloodshed. Saul will later break the truce, but David still refuses to kill his enemy (1 Samuel 26). When David is ready to battle Saul, God prevents it (1 Samuel 29).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 9/19/2025 12:46:39 AM