UTN uW Translation Notes:

1 Samuel 25 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the part of the book that describes how David became king (chapters 16–31). It describes David and his men protected the extensive flocks of a man named Nabal who lived in the southern part of the territory of Judah. When David then reasonably asked for some food from a feast that Nabal was holding to celebrate the shearing of his sheep, Nabal rudely refused him. This made David so angry that he wanted to kill all the men in Nabal’s household. But Nabal’s prudent wife Abigail sent very generous portions of food to David, and she convinced him not to attack and kill those men, persuading him that if he did, he would deeply regret that when he became king.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Sheep-shearing

People in ancient Israel who owned sheep would cut off their wool when the weather started to get warm so that they could use the wool to make clothing, blankets, and other articles. The sheep would eventually grow back another thick coat of wool, but in the meantime they would stay cool in the warmer weather. Cutting the wool of sheep is called “shearing” them. Sheep-shearing was like a time of harvest, since it gave sheep owners and their workers benefits in return for the hard work they had done caring for their sheep. So it was also a time of celebration. Sheep owners would reward those who had helped care for their flocks by hosting them at banquets. When someone told David that Nabal was shearing his sheep, David therefore thought it was reasonable for him to ask Nabal for some of the food from the banquet he knew Nabal would be hosting. David and his men had protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks while they were in the area and, as a result, Nabal got even more wool from his flocks than usual, since he had suffered no losses due to theft or wild-animal attacks. In ancient Israelite culture, this kind of protection was understood to have created an obligation of hospitality and sharing, especially during times of celebration like sheep-shearing. David's request was therefore not just a matter of charity but was based on the established social customs and the practical services that he and his men had provided to Nabal. It was outrageous for Nabal to deny David this recognition of his help and this well-deserved share in the banquet. That is why David became so angry with Nabal.