1 Samuel 25:9

9 David's young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David's behalf,^[a] and they waited.^[b]

1 Samuel 25:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 25:9

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 ^F26.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (wxwnyw) "et quieverunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster.
F26 Moreh Nevochim par. 1. c. 67.

1 Samuel 25:9 In-Context

7 I hear that you are shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.

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 day. Please give whatever you can afford 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, and they waited.

10 Nabal asked them, "Who is David? 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 men who are from I don't know where?"

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit name
• [b]. LXX reads and he became arrogant