1 Samuel 25
Christian Standard Bible
David, Nabal, and Abigail
25 Samuel died,(A) and all Israel assembled to mourn for him,(B) and they buried him by his home in Ramah.(C) David then went down to the Wilderness of Paran.[a](D)
2 A man in Maon(E) had a business in Carmel;(F) he was a very rich man with three thousand sheep and one thousand goats and was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name, Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man, a Calebite,(G) was harsh and evil in his dealings.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep, 5 so David sent ten young men instructing them, “Go up to Carmel, and when you come to Nabal, greet him[b] in my name. 6 Then say this: ‘Long life to you,[c] and peace to you, peace to your family, and peace to all that is yours.(H) 7 I hear that you are shearing.[d] When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.(I) 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast[e] day.(J) Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 David’s young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David’s behalf,[f] and they waited.[g] 10 Nabal asked them, “Who is David?(K) Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters. 11 Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t know where they are from.”
12 David’s young men retraced their steps. When they returned to him, they reported all these words. 13 He said to his men, “All of you, put on your swords!” So each man put on his sword, and David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David while two hundred stayed with the supplies.(L)
14 One of Nabal’s young men informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master,(M) but he screamed at them. 15 The men treated us very well. When we were in the field, we weren’t harassed(N) and nothing of ours was missing the whole time we were living among them. 16 They were a wall around us, both day and night,(O) the entire time we were with them herding the sheep. 17 Now consider carefully[h] what you should do, because there is certain to be trouble for our master and his entire family. He is such a worthless fool nobody can talk to him!”
18 Abigail hurried, taking two hundred loaves of bread, two clay jars of wine, five butchered sheep, a bushel[i] of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.(P) 19 Then she said to her male servants, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.”(Q) But she did not tell her husband, Nabal.
20 As she rode the donkey down a mountain pass hidden from view, she saw David and his men coming toward her and met them. 21 David had just said, “I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness for nothing. He was not missing anything, yet he paid me back evil for good. 22 May God punish me[j] and do so severely(R) if I let any of his males[k] survive until morning.”(S)
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and knelt down with her face to the ground and paid homage to David.(T) 24 She knelt at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant. 25 My lord should pay no attention to this worthless fool Nabal, for he lives up to his name:[l] His name means ‘stupid,’ and stupidity is all he knows.[m] I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent. 26 Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live—it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself(U) by your own hand—may your enemies and those who intend to harm my lord be like Nabal.(V) 27 Let this gift(W) your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive your servant’s offense,(X) for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord(Y) because he fights the Lord’s battles.(Z) Throughout your life, may evil[n] not be found in you.(AA)
29 “Someone is pursuing you and intends to take your life. My lord’s life is tucked safely in the place[o] where the Lord your God protects the living, but he is flinging away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.(AB) 30 When the Lord does for my lord all the good he promised you and appoints you ruler over Israel,(AC) 31 there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”(AD)
32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,(AE) who sent you to meet me today! 33 May your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.(AF) 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any males[p] left by morning light.” 35 Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace.(AG) See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request.”(AH)
36 Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king.(AI) Nabal’s heart was cheerful,[q] and he was very drunk, so she didn’t say anything[r] to him(AJ) until morning light.
37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up,[s] his wife told him about these events. His heart died[t] and he became a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.(AK)
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who championed my cause against Nabal’s insults(AL) and restrained his servant from doing evil.(AM) The Lord brought Nabal’s evil deeds back on his own head.”(AN)
Then David sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him. 40 When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David sent us to bring you to him as a wife.”
41 She stood up, paid homage with her face to the ground,(AO) and said, “Here I am, your servant, a slave to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”(AP) 42 Then Abigail got up quickly, and with her five female servants accompanying her, rode on the donkey following David’s messengers.(AQ) And so she became his wife.
43 David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel,(AR) and the two of them became his wives. 44 But Saul gave his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti(AS) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.(AT)
Footnotes
- 25:1 LXX reads to Maon
- 25:5 Or Nabal, ask him for peace
- 25:6 Lit ‘To life
- 25:7 Lit you have shearers
- 25:8 Lit good
- 25:9 Lit name
- 25:9 LXX reads and he became arrogant
- 25:17 Lit Now know and see
- 25:18 Lit sheep, five seahs
- 25:22 LXX; MT reads David’s enemies
- 25:22 Lit of those of his who are urinating against the wall
- 25:25 Lit for as is his name is, so he is
- 25:25 Lit and foolishness is with him
- 25:28 Or trouble
- 25:29 Lit bundle
- 25:34 Lit had anyone urinating against a wall
- 25:36 Lit Nabal’s heart was good on him
- 25:36 Lit anything at all
- 25:37 Lit when the wine had gone out of Nabal
- 25:37 Lit Then his heart died within him
1 Samuel 25
Dette er Biblen på dansk
25 Da Samuel var død, samledes hele Israel og holdt Klage over ham; og man jordede ham i hans Hjem i Rama. Derpå brød David op og drog ned til Maons Ørken.
2 I Maon boede en Mand, som havde sin Bedrift i Karmel; denne Mand var hovedrig, han havde 3000 får og 1000 Geder; og han var netop i Karmel til Fåreklipning. 3 Manden hed Nabal, hans Hustru Abigajil; hun var en klog og smuk Kvinde, medens Manden var hård og ond. Han var Kalebit. 4 Da David ude i Ørkenen hørte, at Nabal havde Fåreklipning, 5 sendte han ti af sine Folk af Sted og sagde til dem: "Gå op til Karmel, og når l kommer til Nabal, så hils ham fra mig 6 og sig til min Broder: Fred være med dig, Fred være med dit Hus, og Fred være med alt, hvad dit er! 7 Jeg har hørt, at du har Fåreklipning. Nu har dine Hyrder opholdt sig hos os; vi har ikke fornærmet dem, og de har intet mistet, i al den Tid de har været i Karmel; 8 spørg kun dine Folk, så skal de fortælle dig det. Fat Godhed for Folkene! Vi kommer jo til en Festdag; giv dine Trælle og din Søn David, hvad du vil unde os!"
9 Davids Folk kom hen og sagde alt dette til Nabal fra David og biede så på Svar. 10 Men Nabal svarede Davids Folk: "Hvem er David, hvem er Isajs Søn? Nu til Dags er der så mange Trælle, der løber fra deres Herre. 11 Skulde jeg tage mit Brød, min Vin og mit Slagtekvæg, som jeg har slagtet til mine Fåreklippere, og give det til Mænd, jeg ikke ved, hvor er fra?" 12 Så begav Davids Folk sig på Hjemvejen, og da de kom tilbage, fortalte de ham det hele: 13 Da sagde David til sine Folk:"Spænd alle eders Sværd ved Lænd!" Da spændte de alle deres Sværd om, også David. Og henved 400 Mand fulgte David, medens 200 blev ved Trosset.
14 Men en af Folkene fortalte Nabals Hustru Abigajil det og sagde: "David sendte Bud fra Ørkenen for at hilse på vor Herre; men han overfusede dem, 15 skønt de Mænd har været meget gode mod os og ikke fornærmet os, og vi har intet mistet, i al den Tid vi færdedes sammen med dem, da vi var ude i Marken. 16 De var en Mur om os både Nat og Dag, i al den Tid vi vogtede Småkvæget i Nærheden af dem. 17 Se nu til, hvad du vil gøre, thi Ulykken hænger over Hovedet på vor Herre og hele hans Hus; han selv er jo en Usling, man ikke kan tale med!"
18 Så gik Abigajil straks hen og tog 200 Brød, to Dunke Vin, fem tillavede Får, fem Sea ristet Korn, 100 Rosinkager og 200 Figenkager, lagde det på Æslerne 19 og sagde til sine Karle: "Gå i Forvejen, jeg kommer bagefter!" Men sin Mand Nabal sagde hun intet derom. 20 Som hun nu på sit Æsel red ned ad Vejen i Skjul af Bjerget, kom David og hans Mænd ned imod hende, så hun mødte dem. 21 Men David havde sagt: "Det er slet ingen Nytte til, at jeg i Ørkenen har værnet om alt, hvad den Mand ejede, så intet deraf gik tabt; han har gengældt mig godt med ondt. 22 Gud ramme David både med det ene og det andet, om jeg levner noget mandligt Væsen af alt, hvad hans er, til Morgenens Frembrud!"
23 Da Abigajil fik Øje på David, sprang hun straks af Æselet og kastede sig ned for David på sit Ansigt, bøjede sig til Jorden, 24 faldt ned for hans Fødder og sagde: "Skylden er min, Herre! Lad din Trælkvinde tale til dig og hør din Trælkvindes Ord! 25 Min Herre må ikke regne med den Usling fil Nabal! Han svarer til sit Navn; Nabal hedder han, og fuld af Dårskab er han; men jeg, din Trælkvinde, så ikke min Herres Folk, som du sendte hid. 26 Men nu, min Herre, så sandt Herren lever, og så sandt du lever, du, hvem Herren har holdt fra at pådrage dig Blodskyld og tage dig selv til Rette: Måtte det gå dine Fjender og dem, som pønser på ondt mod min Herre, som Nabal! 27 Lad nu Folkene, som følger min Herre, få denne Gave, som din Trælkvinde bringer min Herre. 28 Tilgiv dog din Trælkvinde hendes Brøde; thi Herren vil visselig bygge min Herre et Hus, som skal stå, eftersom min Herre fører Herrens Krige, og der ikke har været noget ondt at finde hos dig, så længe du har levet. 29 Og skulde nogen rejse sig for at forfølge dig og stå dig efter Livet, måtte da min Herres Liv være bundet i de levendes Knippe hos Herren din Gud; men dine Fjenders Liv slynge han bort med Slyngeskålen! 30 Når Herren så for min Herre opfylder alt det gode, han lovede dig, og sætter dig til Fyrste over Israel, 31 da får du ikke dette at bebrejde dig selv, og min Herre får ikke Samvittighedsnag af, at han uden Grund udgød Blod, og at min Herre tog sig selv til Rette. Og når Herren gør vel imod min Herre, kom da din Trælkvinde i Hu!"
32 Da sagde David til Abigajil: "Priset være Herren, Israels Gud, som i Dag sendte mig dig i Møde, 33 priset være din Klogskab, og priset være du selv, som i bag holdt mig fra at pådrage mig Blodskyld og tage mig selv til Rette! 34 Men så sandt Herren, Israels Gud, lever, som holdt mig fra at gøre dig Men: Hvis du ikke var ilet mig i Møde, var ikke et mandligt Væsen levnet Nabal til i Morgen!" 35 Og David modtog af hende, hvad hun havde bragt ham, og sagde til hende: "Gå op til dit Hus i Fred! Jeg har lånt dig Øre og opfyldt dit Ønske."
36 Da Abigajil kom hjem til Nabal, holdt han netop i sit Hus et Gæstebud som en Konges; og da han var glad og stærkt beruset, sagde hun ham ikke det mindste, før det dagedes. 37 Men om Morgenen, da Nabals Rus var ovre, fortalte hans Hustru ham Sagen. Da lammedes Hjertet i hans Bryst, og han blev som Sten; 38 og en halv Snes Dage efter slog Herren Nabal, så han døde. 39 Da David fik at vide, at Nabal var død, sagde han: "Lovet være Herren, som har hævnet den Krænkelse, Nabal tilføjede mig, og holdt sin Tjener fra at gøre ondt; Herren har ladet Nabals Ondskab falde tilbage på hans eget Hoved!" Derpå sendte David Bud og bejlede til Abigajil. 40 Og da Davids Trælle kom til Abigajil i Karmel, talte de således til hende: "David har sendt os til dig for at bejle til dig!" 41 Da rejste hun sig, bøjede sig med Ansigtet mod Jorden og sagde: "Din Tjenerinde er rede til at blive min Herres Trælkvinde og tvætte hans Trælles Fødder!" 42 Så stod Abigajil hastigt op og satte sig på sit Æsel, og hendes fem Piger ledsagede hende; og hun fulgte med Davids Sendebud og blev hans Hustru.
43 Desuden havde David ægtet Ahinoam fra Jizre'el. Således blev de begge to hans Hustruer. 44 Men Saul gav sin Datter Mikal, Davids Hustru, til Palti, Lajisj's Søn, fra Gallim.
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