John Gill Commentary 1 Samuel 25:22

John Gill Commentary

1 Samuel 25:22

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

1 Samuel 25:22

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"God do so unto the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light so much as one man-child." — 1 Samuel 25:22 (ASV)

So and more also do God unto the enemies of David
Give them as much health and prosperity, as much wealth and riches, as Nabal has, and much more:

if I leave of all that [pertaining] to him, by the morning light, any
that pisses against the wall ;
which is generally understood of a dog, that he would not leave him so much as a dog: but it is better, with Ben Gersom, to interpret it of the males in his house, himself, his sons, and servants; and so the Targum paraphrases it of reasonable creatures, of such that know knowledge, or are knowing and understanding creatures;

It seems to have been towards the evening of the day when David was marching towards Nabal's house, designing to fall upon him and his, amidst their jollity that night, and cut them all off before morning. This must be imputed to the sudden and violent passion David was thrown into when off his guard, through the necessity he was in, the disappointment he met with, and the opprobrious language he was treated with; but in this his conduct was not as it used to be, and as it was towards Saul his enemy.

Nor is his rage and passion to be vindicated, or the rash vow he made to destroy Nabal and his family; his crime, though great, yet not to be punished with death; his ingratitude and insolence deserved resentment, but were not capital crimes worthy of death, and especially of the destruction of his whole family; the Jews indeed make him to be guilty of treason, in that he knew that David was anointed king, and yet both abused him, and disobeyed his commands, and therefore being guilty of overt acts of treason, he and his were deserving of death; but David was not yet king.