1st Samuel Chapter 25 verse 4 Holy Bible
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
read chapter 25 in ASV
And David had word in the waste land that Nabal was cutting the wool of his sheep.
read chapter 25 in BBE
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
read chapter 25 in DARBY
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
read chapter 25 in KJV
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
read chapter 25 in WBT
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
read chapter 25 in WEB
And David heareth in the wilderness that Nabal is shearing his flock,
read chapter 25 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 4, 5. - Though David had gone some distance southward of Carmel, yet it was worth his while to send men to Nabal's sheep shearing, as the maintenance of his numerous force must have been a continual difficulty. The large number, ten, also shows that he expected a liberal gift of food. Probably such missions were not uncommon, and the large sheep masters were glad to supply the wants of one who guarded their flocks and defended them from the incursions of the desert tribes.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) And David heard in the wilderness.--The question of the support of the large band of devoted followers who obeyed David must have been usually a very anxious one. No doubt, contributions from the farmers and sheep-masters materially aided the supplies David and his men derived from their raids across the Philistine borders. It is likely enough that some of these contributions were not always willingly made; still, there is no doubt that the presence of the armed band of David during the latter years of Saul afforded considerable protection to the border land. His position resembled that of a modern Arab sheik of a friendly Bedaween tribe, and it is clear that on the whole his career as head of an army of free lances tended to popularise him among the southern tribes of Israel. Nabal's conduct appears to have been more than churlish and foolish, for David, according to the showing of Nabal's own shepherds, had on many occasions been of substantial service to them as they tended their flocks in exposed and dangerous localities. The testimony of these shepherd folk may be accepted generally as the popular estimate of David and his acts during this rough and sorely tried period of his life.
