Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 25:13

"And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the baggage." — 1 Samuel 25:13 (ASV)

Gird ye on every man his sword. —The formal preparation and the size of the force designated for the work showed how very earnest David was, and how bent he was on wiping out the insult of Nabal in blood. From the view we have taken of the transaction above, David’s anger is quite understandable, though not to be excused.