1st Samuel Chapter 25 verse 3 Holy Bible

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 3. - Nabal, the word rendered fool in Psalm 14:1; literally, "flat," "vapid." Abigail means "one who is the cause (father) of joy," i.e. one who gives joy. She, with her bright understanding and beautiful person (the Hebrew word takes in much more than the countenance; see 1 Samuel 16:18, where it is rendered comely person), is in contrast with the coarse, churlish man who was her husband. His name was either one which he had acquired by his conduct, or if given him by his parents shows that they were clownish people. He was of the house of Caleb. The written text has, "he was according to his heart," celibbo, i.e. a self-willed man, or one whose rude exterior answered to his inner nature; but there are linguistic difficulties in the way of this reading, and the Kri is probably right in correcting calibbi, a Calebite, a descendant of Caleb, who had large possessions assigned him in the neighbourhood of Hebron (Joshua 15:13-19), which is only ten miles northwest of Carmel. The versions support the Kri, though the Syriac and Septuagint render doglike - one who, like a dog, though he has plenty, yet grudges others. The meaning of the name Caleb is literally "a dog."

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) Nabal.--The word "Nabal" means "fool," connected with naval, to fade away. The name was probably a nickname given him on account of his well-known stubborn folly.Abigail.--The famous beautiful woman who afterwards became David's wife seems to have been, as Stanley calls her, "the good angel of the household" of the ill-starred, boorish southern chieftain. Her name, too, which signifies "whose father is joy," was most likely given her by the villagers on her husband's estate, as expressive of her sunny, gladness-bringing presence. Her early training, and the question respecting the sources whence she derived her wisdom and deep, far-sighted piety--apparently far in advance of her age--is discussed further on in the chapter.The house of Caleb.--In the original Kalibi, i.e., of the house or family of Caleb. Thus the word is read in the Hebrew Bible. There is, however, an alternative reading--K'libi--with different vowel-points in the written text, which would be read "according to his heart." Josephus, the LXX., and the Arabic and Syriac Versions understand it as derived from kelev, a dog, and render--"and he was a cynical man" (that is, "one of a dog-like character"--anthr?pos keunikos). The Chaldee "e domo Caleb," and Vulgate "de genero Caleb," follow the text which is read in the Hebrew Bible, and translated in our version, "of the house of Caleb," which seems, on the whole, the preferable and most likely meaning.