Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 25:9
And when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
And when David’s young men came,…. To Carmel:
they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David; they delivered their message punctually and exactly, in the very words, or however according to the purport of them, in David’s name, as he enjoined them:
and ceased: from speaking, waiting for Nabal’s answer; or “they rested” y, from the fatigues of their journey; which they did not until they had delivered their message to Nabal, and then they took the liberty to sit down and rest themselves; but the former sense seems best, and is preferred by Maimonides z.
y “et quieverunt”, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster. z Moreh Nevochim par. 1. c. 67.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) And ceased.Better rendered, and they sat down. The Hebrew word here has been variously translated. Bunsen suggests, and they waited modestly for an answer; the Vulg., followed by some scholars, has and they were silent.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Ceased Rather, as the margin has it, they rested. They sat down to wait the fulfilment of their request.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(9) And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. (10) And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. (11) Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
It is evident, that Nabal was no stranger to David’s history, by this answer; or he could not have called him the son of Jesse, nor Saul’s servant. But observe, in order to cover over his inhumanity under fair pretences, instead of speaking of David, the deliverer of his country, from the Philistines, and as one oppressed for his faithfulness, he calls him a runaway servant, and only the poor son of a poor father. It is astonishing to observe how the worst of men will find excuses, by way of justifying their conduct.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 25:9 And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
Ver. 9. And ceased. ] Heb., And rested; quiete se continuerunt, a they patiently heard Nabal inveighing against themselves and David, and replied not; this was excellent.
“Incessunt, taceo: culpant, fero; crimina spargunt,
Dissimulo: mordent, absque dolore meo.
Obtrectant, sileo: ringuntur, rideo: vulgo
Traducunt, patior: dant mihi damna, sino.
Exagitant, non exagitor: vexant, neque vexor:
Laedunt, non laedor: probra refutat honos.”
– Buchler., Gnomolog.
a Jun.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
ceased: Heb. rested, or, became quiet, Gen 8:4, 2Ki 2:15, 2Ch 14:7
Reciprocal: Pro 29:7 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Nabal’s foolish response to David 25:9-13
Nabal was a political loyalist who regarded David simply as a rebel. Perhaps he felt that David was running a protection racket to finance his outlaw way of life. More probably, I think, miserly Nabal simply did not want to part with anything that he had (cf. Luk 7:44-47). He failed to admit that David had been a blessing to him. He also refused to acknowledge David as the Lord’s anointed. Ironically Nabal’s servants were about to abandon him, the very thing he falsely accused David of doing to Saul (1Sa 25:10; cf. 1Sa 22:7-8). [Note: Levenson, p. 225.] David overreacted to Nabal’s insulting rebuff (1Sa 25:13). He prepared to attack and kill every male in Nabal’s household that very night (1Sa 25:22; 1Sa 25:34)