Chapter 25

1And Samuel died, and all Israel gathered, and lamented him, and they buried him in his house in Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the Desert of Paran.   אוַיָּ֣מָת שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיִּקָּבְצ֚וּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיִּסְפְּדוּ־ל֔וֹ וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בְּבֵית֖וֹ בָּרָמָ֑ה וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֖רֶד אֶל־מִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן:
2And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel. And the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats; and he was, while shearing his sheep, in Carmel.   בוְאִ֨ישׁ בְּמָע֜וֹן וּמַעֲשֵֹ֣הוּ בַכַּרְמֶ֗ל וְהָאִישׁ֙ גָּד֣וֹל מְאֹ֔ד וְל֛וֹ צֹ֥אן שְׁלֽשֶׁת־אֲלָפִ֖ים וְאֶ֣לֶף עִזִּ֑ים וַיְהִ֛י בִּגְזֹ֥ז אֶת־צֹאנ֖וֹ בַּכַּרְמֶֽל:
in Maon: the name of the city.   ואיש במעון: שם העיר:
and his possessions: (lit., his work, or deed.) His cattle and his possessions.   ומעשהו: מקנהו וקנינו:
great: wealthy.   גדול: עשיר:
and he was, while shearing his sheep, in Carmel: And he was one day, when the time of his sheepshearing came around, in Carmel. And his custom was to make a banquet and a festival for the sheepshearers.   ויהי בגזוז את צאנו בכרמל: ויהי יום אחד בהגיע עת גזוז צאנו בכרמל, ודרכו היה לעשות משתה ויום טוב לגוזזי הצאן:
3And the man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. And the woman was of good sense and of beautiful form, but the man was hard, and of evil deeds; and he was a Calebite.   גוְשֵׁ֚ם הָאִישׁ֙ נָבָ֔ל וְשֵׁ֥ם אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ אֲבִגָ֑יִל וְהָאִשָּׁ֚ה טֽוֹבַת־שֶֹ֙כֶל֙ וִ֣יפַת תֹּ֔אַר וְהָאִ֥ישׁ קָשֶׁ֛ה וְרַ֥ע מַעֲלָלִ֖ים וְה֥וּא כָלִבִּֽי (כתיב כָלִבִּֽו) :
a Calebite: of the house of Caleb.   והוא כלבי: מבית כלב:
4And David heard in the desert, that Nabal was shearing his sheep.   דוַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע דָּוִ֖ד בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּֽי־גֹזֵ֥ז נָבָ֖ל אֶת־צֹאנֽוֹ:
5And David sent ten youths, and David said to the youths, "Go up to Carmel, and you shall come to Nabal, and greet him in my name.   הוַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח דָּוִ֖ד עֲשָׂרָ֣ה נְעָרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לַנְּעָרִ֗ים עֲל֚וּ כַרְמֶ֙לָה֙ וּבָאתֶ֣ם אֶל־נָבָ֔ל וּשְׁאֶלְתֶּם־ל֥וֹ בִשְׁמִ֖י לְשָׁלֽוֹם:
6And you shall say, 'So shall you be living next year, and may peace be to you, and peace to your household, and peace to all that is yours.   ווַאֲמַרְתֶּ֥ם כֹּ֖ה לֶחָ֑י וְאַתָּ֚ה שָׁלוֹם֙ וּבֵיתְךָ֣ שָׁל֔וֹם וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם:
So: will he be shearing in the coming year. (So shall be next year living and existing luck.) (Another version is: Say this concerning his meal and his wine, “So is befitting a live man, and active and esteemed man,” like: [II Sam. 23:20] “the son of a live man (kethib) of many heroic deeds.” I.e., alive and active in all his deeds.)   כה לחי: כה יהיה לשנה הבאה, גוזז (כה לחי. כה יהיה לשנה הבאה, מזל חי וקים). (ל"א כה לחי. אמרו על טבחו ונסכו שתראו, כן ראוי לאיש חי, לאיש זריז וחשוב, כמו (שמואל-ב כג כ) בן איש חי רב פעלים, חי ומזורז, בעל מעשים, ע"כ):
to the living: good and existing.   לחי: טוב וקיים:
and peace to you: So shall it be to the length of days.   ואתה שלום וגו': כן תהיה לאורך ימים:
7And now, I have heard that they are shearing for you. Now, your shepherds were with us. We did not disgrace them, neither was anything missing to them all the time they were in Carmel.   זוְעַתָּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י גֹזְזִ֖ים לָ֑ךְ עַתָּ֗ה הָרֹעִ֚ים אֲשֶׁר־לְךָ֙ הָי֣וּ עִמָּ֔נוּ לֹ֣א הֶכְלַמְנ֗וּם וְלֹֽא־נִפְקַ֚ד לָהֶם֙ מְא֔וּמָה כָּל־יְמֵ֖י הֱיוֹתָ֥ם בַּכַּרְמֶֽל:
We did not disgrace them: If they needed us for anything, we did not send them back empty handed.   לא הכלמנום: אם נצרכו לנו לשום דבר, לא השיבונום ריקם:
neither was anything missing to them.: of your flocks, for we were watching for them.   ולא נפקד להם: מצאנום כי שומרים היינו להם:
8Ask your youths and they will tell you, and may the youths find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day. Give now, what your hand will find, for your servants and for your son David.' "   חשְׁאַ֨ל אֶת־נְעָרֶ֜יךָ וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֗ךְ וְיִמְצְא֨וּ הַנְּעָרִ֥ים חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־עַל־י֥וֹם ט֖וֹב בָּ֑אנוּ (כתיב בָּ֑נוּ) תְּנָה־נָּ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֚א יָֽדְךָ֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּלְבִנְךָ֖ לְדָוִֽד:
and may the youths: i.e., my youths, find favor in your eyes, for the kindness which your servants will tell concerning them.   וימצאו הנערים: שלי, חן בעיניך, בטובה שיגידו לך עבדיך מהם עליהם:
for we have come on a festive day.: Depending upon the banquet and festive day which you have, we have now come to ask. Another explanation is: This was the eve of Rosh Hashanah, (and they said,) “We are in need of a holiday feast.”   כי על יום טוב באנו: על סמך משתה ויום טוב שיש לך, באנו עתה לשאול דבר אחר: ערב ראש השנה היה, וצריכין אנו לסעודת יום טוב:
9And David's youths came, and spoke to Nabal according to all these words, in David's name, and they rested.   טוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ נַעֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד וַיְדַבְּר֧וּ אֶל־נָבָ֛ל כְּכָל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בְּשֵׁ֣ם דָּוִ֑ד וַיָּנֽוּחוּ:
and spoke to Nabal according to all these words, in David’s name, and they rested: They were weary from the way, yet they were quick to execute David’s command, and did not rest until they spoke to him, and afterwards they rested. Jonathan, however, renders: and they ceased, i.e., they stopped speaking further, until they would hear his reply.   וידברו אל נבל ככל הדברים האלה בשם דוד וינוחו: יגעים היו מטורח הדרך, ונזדרזו למצות דוד, ולא נחו עד שדברו אליו, ואחר כך וינוחו ויונתן תרגם: ופסקו, כלומר פסקו מלדבר עוד, עד שישמעו תשובתו:
10And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? Nowadays, there are many slaves, who break away, each one from his master.   יוַיַּ֨עַן נָבָ֜ל אֶת־עַבְדֵ֚י דָוִד֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר מִ֥י דָוִ֖ד וּמִ֣י בֶן־יִשָׁ֑י הַיּוֹם֙ רַבּ֣וּ עֲבָדִ֔ים הַמִּתְפָּ֣רְצִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ מִפְּנֵ֥י אֲדֹנָֽיו:
Who is David: Of what importance is he that I should give him mine? Is he not descended from Ruth the Moabitess?   מי דוד: מה הוא חשוב שאתן לו את שלי, הלא מרות המואביה בא:
11Now, shall I take my bread and my water, and my meal which I have cooked for my shearers, and shall I give them to people of whom I know not whence they are?"   יאוְלָקַחְתִּ֚י אֶת־לַחְמִי֙ וְאֶת־מֵימַ֔י וְאֵת֙ טִבְחָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר טָבַ֖חְתִּי לְגֹֽזְזָ֑י וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי אֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה הֵֽמָּה:
12And David's youths turned around to their way, and returned, and came and told him according to all these words.   יבוַיַּהַפְכ֥וּ נַעֲרֵֽי־דָוִ֖ד לְדַרְכָּ֑ם וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֔אוּ וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ ל֔וֹ כְּכֹ֖ל הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
13And David said to his men, "Gird each man his sword," and they girded each man his sword, and David too, girded his sword, and they went up after David, about four hundred men, and two hundred stayed with the luggage.   יגוַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו חִגְר֣וּ | אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־חַרְבּ֗וֹ וַֽיַּחְגְּרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־חַרְבּ֔וֹ וַיַּחְגֹּ֥ר גַּם־דָּוִ֖ד אֶת־חַרְבּ֑וֹ וַֽיַּעֲל֣וּ | אַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֗ד כְּאַרְבַּ֚ע מֵאוֹת֙ אִ֔ישׁ וּמָאתַ֖יִם יָשְׁב֥וּ עַל־הַכֵּלִֽים:
and David too, girded his sword: Hence, we derive that in cases involving capital punishment, we commence from the most insignificant in law first.   ויחגור גם דוד את חרבו: מכאן שמתחילין בדיני נפשות מן הקטנים בדין תחלה (סנהדרין לו א):
by the luggage: to watch their tents and utensils.   על הכלים: לשמור אהליהם וכליהם:
14And one youth of the youths, told Abigail, the wife of Nabal, saying, "Behold, David sent messengers from the desert to greet our master, and he drove them away.   ידוְלַאֲבִיגַ֙יִל֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת נָבָ֔ל הִגִּ֧יד נַֽעַר־אֶחָ֛ד מֵהַנְּעָרִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁלַח֩ דָּוִ֨ד מַלְאָכִ֧ים | מֵֽהַמִּדְבָּ֛ר לְבָרֵ֥ךְ אֶת־אֲדֹנֵ֖ינוּ וַיָּ֥עַט בָּהֶֽם:
one youth of the youths: hers.   אחד מהנערים: שלה:
and he drove them away: (ויעט בהם) With words, he made them fly away. An expression of עיט (a bird) (Gen. 15:11).   ויעט בהם: (תרגום:) אפרחינון במלין (ילקוט שמעוני רמז קל"ד, ופירושו הכריחם בדבריו הרעים), לשון עיט (בראשית טו יא):
15And the men are very good to us; and we were not disgraced, nor was anything missing to us all the time we went with them, when we were in the field.   טווְהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים טֹבִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ מְאֹ֑ד וְלֹ֚א הָכְלַ֙מְנוּ֙ וְלֹֽא־פָקַ֣דְנוּ מְא֔וּמָה כָּל־יְמֵי֙ הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ אִתָּ֔ם בִּֽהְיוֹתֵ֖נוּ בַּשָּׂדֶֽה:
and we were not disgraced: (Heb. הכלמנו ולא. This is synonymous with the usual passive form,) ולא נכלמנו.   ולא הכלמנו: לא נכלמנו:
16They were a wall over us both night and day, all the time we were with them, pasturing the sheep.   טזחוֹמָה֙ הָי֣וּ עָלֵ֔ינוּ גַּם־לַ֖יְלָה גַּם־יוֹמָ֑ם כָּל־יְמֵ֛י הֱיוֹתֵ֥נוּ עִמָּ֖ם רֹעִ֥ים הַצֹּֽאן:
17And now, know and see what you will do, for the evil has been decided upon against our master and against all of his household; and he is such a base person that one cannot speak to him."   יזוְעַתָּ֗ה דְּעִ֚י וּרְאִי֙ מַֽה־תַּעֲשִֹ֔י כִּֽי־כָלְתָ֧ה הָרָעָ֛ה אֶל־אֲדֹנֵ֖ינוּ וְעַ֣ל כָּל־בֵּית֑וֹ וְהוּא֙ בֶּן־בְּלִיַּ֔עַל מִדַּבֵּ֖ר אֵלָֽיו:
for the evil has been decided upon: by David against him.   כי כלתה הרעה: מאת דוד אליו:
and he is such a base person that I cannot speak to him: And our master is such a base person that I cannot speak to him that which I am saying to you, lest he become angry with us.   והוא בן בליעל מדבר אליו: ואדונינו בן בליעל, מהיות דובר אליו מה שאני אומר אליך, כי יקצוף עלינו:
18And Abigail hastened and she took two hundred loaves, and two earthenware jugs of wine, and five prepared sheep, and five seah of flour of roasted ears of grain, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs; and she placed them on the donkeys.   יחוַתְּמַהֵ֣ר אֲבִיגַ֡יִל (כתיב אֲבִוגַ֡יִל) וַתִּקַּח֩ מָאתַ֨יִם לֶ֜חֶם וּשְׁנַ֣יִם נִבְלֵי־יַ֗יִן וְחָמֵ֨שׁ צֹ֚אן עֲשׂוּיוֹת֙ (כתיב עֲשׂוּו‍ֹת֙) וְחָמֵ֚שׁ סְאִים֙ קָלִ֔י וּמֵאָ֥ה צִמֻּקִ֖ים וּמָאתַ֣יִם דְּבֵלִ֑ים וַתָּ֖שֶׂם עַל־הַחֲמֹרִֽים:
prepared: Jonathan renders: תכברא, filled with finely cut meat and eggs. Pates (meat pies) in French, as we learned in Pesahim (74a): And he places the feet and its intestines inside. Rabbi Tarfon calls it תכברא, (a combination of two words, תוך, inside, and ברא, outside). That which is inside is placed outside, according to Rabbi Akiva, who says that the intestines hang outside of it (the paschal lamb). Thus it is stated in the Tosefta(?), and Rabbi Klonimos of sainted memory, from Rome, explained it to us thusly.   עשויות: תרגם יונתן: תכברא, ממולאות בשר דק וביצים, פשטי"ץ בלע"ז כמו ששנינו בפסחים (עד א, עיין שם היטב ברש"י ד"ה רבי ישמעאל קורהו וכו', ומצוה ליישב): ונותן את הכרעים ובני מעיו לתוכו, רבי טרפון קורהו תכברא, מה שבתוכו לברו, כרבי עקיבא דאמר תולין חוצה לו, כך היא שנויה בתוספתא, רבי קלונימוס זצ"ל מן רומי פרשה לנו כן:
raisins: dried grapes.   צמוקים: ענבים יבשים:
cakes of figs: round cakes of dried figs, trodden and pressed in a vessel.   דבלים: עגולי דבלה, תאנים דרוסות וכבושות בכלי:
19And she said to her youths, "Go on ahead of me. Behold, I am coming after you." And she did not tell her husband Nabal.   יטוַתֹּ֚אמֶר לִנְעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ עִבְר֣וּ לְפָנַ֔י הִנְנִ֖י אַחֲרֵיכֶ֣ם בָּאָ֑ה וּלְאִישָׁ֥הּ נָבָ֖ל לֹ֥א הִגִּֽידָה:
20And it was, that she was riding on the donkey, and coming down, under cover of the mountain, and behold, David and his men were coming down toward her, and she met them.   כוְהָיָ֞ה הִ֣יא | רֹכֶ֣בֶת עַל־הַחֲמ֗וֹר וְיֹרֶ֙דֶת֙ בְּסֵ֣תֶר הָהָ֔ר וְהִנֵּ֚ה דָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו יֹרְדִ֖ים לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ וַתִּפְגּ֖שׁ אֹתָֽם:
going down toward her: There was a valley between the two mountains. She was going down one mountain, and they were going down the opposite mountain.   יורדים לקראתה: גיא היה בין שני ההרים, היא יורדת מהר זה, והם יורדים מהר זה שכנגדו:
21And David said, "Surely in vain have I watched all this fellow has in the desert, so that nothing was missing of all that is his, and he has returned me evil for good.   כאוְדָוִ֣ד אָמַ֗ר אַךְ֩ לַשֶּׁ֨קֶר שָׁמַ֜רְתִּי אֶֽת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֚ר לָזֶה֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְלֹא־נִפְקַ֥ד מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ מְא֑וּמָה וַיָּֽשֶׁב־לִ֥י רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָֽה:
And David said: to himself when his youths related to him Nabal’s insults, “Surely in vain have I watched, etc.”   ודוד אמר: בלבו כשאמרו לו נעריו גדופי נבל, אך לשקר שמרתי וגו':
22So shall God do to David's enemies, and so shall He continue, if I leave over of all that he has, by the morning light, even one dog."   כבכֹּה־יַעֲשֶֹ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים לְאֹיְבֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֑יף אִם־אַשְׁאִ֧יר מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ עַד־הַבֹּ֖קֶר מַשְׁתִּ֥ין בְּקִֽיר:
even one dog: (משתין בקיר.) Jonathan renders: one possessing intelligence, (explaining משתין from משית, placing, i.e.,) one who places the walls of his heart (i.e., capable of intelligent thought, an adult). Another explanation is: even a dog whose manner is to urinate against the wall, (explaining משתין in the usual manner).   משתין: יונתן תרגם: ידע מדע, משית קירות לבו. דבר אחר, אפילו כלב, שדרכו להשתין בקיר:
23And Abigail saw David, and she hastened and leaned off the donkey; and she fell on her face before David, and prostrated herself on the ground.   כגוַתֵּ֚רֶא אֲבִיגַ֙יִל֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וַתְּמַהֵ֕ר וַתֵּ֖רֶד מֵעַ֣ל הַחֲמ֑וֹר וַתִּפֹּ֞ל לְאַפֵּ֚י דָוִד֙ עַל־פָּנֶ֔יהָ וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָֽרֶץ:
24And she fell at his feet, and said, "In me alone, my lord, is the iniquity. Now, let your handmaid speak into your ears, and hearken to the words of your handmaid.   כדוַתִּפֹּל֙ עַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר בִּי־אֲנִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הֶֽעָוֹ֑ן וּֽתְדַבֶּר־נָ֚א אֲמָֽתְךָ֙ בְּאָזְנֶ֔יךָ וּשְׁמַ֕ע אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֲמָתֶֽךָ:
In me alone, my lord, is the iniquity: First she said this so that he would heed her words. At the end, however, she told him the truth: “I, your handmaid, did not see my lord’s youths” (supra v. 25).   בי אני אדני העון: מתחלה אמרה כך, כדי שיטה אוזן לדבריה, ולסוף אמרה לו האמת, אני אמתך לא ראיתי את נערי אדני:
25Let not my lord take heed of this base fellow, of Nabal, for like his name, so is he. Nabal is his name, and ungratefulness is with him: and I, your handmaid, did not see my lord's youths whom you sent.   כהאַל־נָ֣א יָשִֹ֣ים אֲדֹנִ֣י | אֶת־לִבּ֡וֹ אֶל־אִישׁ֩ הַבְּלִיַּ֨עַל הַזֶּ֜ה עַל־נָבָ֗ל כִּ֚י כִשְׁמוֹ֙ כֶּן־ה֔וּא נָבָ֣ל שְׁמ֔וֹ וּנְבָלָ֖ה עִמּ֑וֹ וַֽאֲנִי֙ אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ לֹ֥א רָאִ֛יתִי אֶת־נַעֲרֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלָֽחְתָּ:
26And now, my lord, as the Lord lives and by your life, (I swear) that the Lord has withheld you from coming to bloodshed, and from saving yourself with your hand. And now, may your enemies and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.   כווְעַתָּ֣ה אֲדֹנִ֗י חַי־יְהֹוָ֚ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר מְנָעֲךָ֚ יְהֹוָה֙ מִבּ֣וֹא בְדָמִ֔ים וְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ יָדְךָ֖ לָ֑ךְ וְעַתָּ֗ה יִֽהְי֚וּ כְנָבָל֙ אֹיְבֶ֔יךָ וְהַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֥ים אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י רָעָֽה:
that… withheld: for He sent me toward you to withhold you from bloodshed.   אשר מנעך: ששלחני לקראתך למנעך משפיכות דמים:
and from saving yourself with your hand: lest you personally avenge yourself and be punished.   והושע ידך לך: מלנקום אתה בעצמך את נקמתך ותענש:
as Nabal: She prophesied with the divine spirit that Nabal would not live long.   יהיו כנבל איביך: נתנבאת ברוח הקודש שלא יאריך ימים:
27And now, this gift which your handmaid has brought to my lord, shall be given to the youths who walk at my lord's feet.   כזוְעַתָּה֙ הַבְּרָכָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁר־הֵבִ֥יא שִׁפְחָתְךָ֖ לַֽאדֹנִ֑י וְנִתְּנָה֙ לַנְּעָרִ֔ים הַמִּֽתְהַלְּכִ֖ים בְּרַגְלֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי:
shall be given: (Heb. ונתנה) And it shall be given to the youths, etc. נתנה, (It was given) is past tense, ונתנה (with a ‘vav’) is future tense.   ונתנה לנערים: ותנתן לנערים המתהלכים וגו', 'נתנה' לשון עבר, ו'נתנה' לשון להבא:
28Forgive now your handmaid's transgression, for the Lord shall make for my lord a sure house, for my lord fights the wars of the Lord. And let no evil be found in you all your days.   כחשָֹ֥א נָ֖א לְפֶ֣שַׁע אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֣י עָשֹֽה־יַעֲשֶׂה֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה לַֽאדֹנִ֜י בַּ֣יִת נֶאֱמָ֗ן כִּי־מִלְחֲמ֚וֹת יְהֹוָה֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י נִלְחָ֔ם וְרָעָ֛ה לֹא־תִמָּצֵ֥א בְךָ֖ מִיָּמֶֽיךָ:
for the Lord shall make for my lord a sure house: to be King over Israel. Therefore,   כי עשה יעשה ה' לאדני בית נאמן: להיות מלך על ישראל, לפיכך,:
let no evil be found in you: Therefore, it is not fitting for you to do anything contrary to the Law, to spread evil talk concerning your kingdom.   ורעה לא תמצא בך: , לכך לא נאה לך לעשות שלא כדין, להוציא לעז על מלכותך:
29And a man has arisen to pursue you and to seek your soul. But my lord's soul shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord your God, while the soul of your enemies, the Lord will sling it with the hollow of the sling.   כטוַיָּ֚קָם אָדָם֙ לִרְדָפְךָ֔ וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְֽהָיְתָה֩ נֶ֨פֶשׁ אֲדֹנִ֜י צְרוּרָ֣ה | בִּצְר֣וֹר הַחַיִּ֗ים ֤אֵת יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְאֵ֨ת נֶ֚פֶשׁ אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ יְקַלְּעֶ֔נָּה בְּת֖וֹךְ כַּ֥ף הַקָּֽלַע:
the soul of your enemies, the Lord will sling it with the hollow of the sling: A wide piece of leather, made like a sort of hollow, in the middle of the sling, in which one places the stone.   כף הקלע: חתיכת עור רחבה עשויה כמין כף באמצע הקלע, שנותן בה האבן:
30And it will be, when the Lord will do to my lord according to all the good which He spoke concerning you, and He will appoint you as ruler over Israel.   לוְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־יַעֲשֶֹ֚ה יְהֹוָה֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֶת־הַטּוֹבָ֖ה עָלֶ֑יךָ וְצִוְּךָ֥ לְנָגִ֖יד עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
And it will be, when the Lord will do, etc.: and you will reign.   והיה כי יעשה ה' וגו': ותמלוך:
31Let this not be to you as a stumbling block and a remorse of heart to my lord, that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. And when the Lord will do good to my lord, you shall remember your maidservant."   לאוְלֹ֣א תִהְיֶ֣ה זֹ֣את | לְךָ֡ לְפוּקָה֩ וּלְמִכְשׁ֨וֹל לֵ֜ב לַאדֹנִ֗י וְלִשְׁפָּךְ־דָּם֙ חִנָּ֔ם וּלְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֲדֹנִ֖י ל֑וֹ וְהֵיטִ֚ב יְהֹוָה֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י וְזָכַרְתָּ֖ אֶת־אֲמָתֶֽךָ:
And let this not be to you as a stumbling block: (לפוקה) as a stumbling block, like: “and the stumbling (ופיק) of the knees” (Nahum 2:11), for, had you done this, you would not be able to open your mouth to reprove anyone of the future generations, concerning bloodshed.   ולא תהיה וגו' לפוקה: לכשלון, כמו (נחום ב יא): לפיק ברכים, שאם היית עושה זאת, לא יהיה לך פתחון פה לרדות אדם לדורות הבאים על שפיכות דמים:
or that my lord has avenged himself: that you avenge yourself.   ולהושיע אדני לו: שתנקום אתה את נקמתך:
32And David said to Abigail, "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, Who has sent you towards me on this day.   לבוַיֹּ֥אמֶר דָּוִ֖ד לַאֲבִיגַ֑ל בָּר֚וּךְ יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֧ר שְׁלָחֵ֛ךְ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לִקְרָאתִֽי:
33Blessed is your advice, and blessed be you, who have restrained me this day from coming into bloodshed, and from avenging myself with my own hand.   לגוּבָר֥וּךְ טַעְמֵ֖ךְ וּבְרוּכָ֣ה אָ֑תְּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר כְּלִתִ֜נִי הַיּ֚וֹם הַזֶּה֙ מִבּ֣וֹא בְדָמִ֔ים וְהשֵׁ֥עַ יָדִ֖י לִֽי:
restrained me: (Heb. כליתני) you withheld me, like: You shall not withhold (תכלא) your mercy (Ps. 40:12); will not withhold (כלה) from you (Gen. 12:7).   כליתני: מנעת אותי, כמו (תהלים מ יב): לא תכלא רחמיך ; לא יכלה ממך (בראשית כג ז):
and from avenging myself with my own hand: (lit., and avenging etc.) This is connected with the phrase, “from coming into bloodshed.” The ‘mem’ of מבוא, (from coming) is connected to ‘and avenging,’ to be explained as, ‘from coming into bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.’   והושע ידי לי: מוסב על מבוא בדמים, מ"ם של מבוא מחוברת על והושע, כמו מבוא בדמים ומהושע ידי לי:
34And indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, Who has restrained me from harming you, (I swear) that had you not hastened and come toward me, there would not have been left to Nabal until daybreak, even one dog."   לדוְאוּלָ֗ם חַי־יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר מְנָעַ֔נִי מֵהָרַ֖ע אֹתָ֑ךְ כִּ֣י | לוּלֵ֣י מִהַ֗רְתְּ וַתָּבֹאת֙ (כתיב וַתָּבֹאת֙י) לִקְרָאתִ֔י כִּ֣י אִם־נוֹתַ֧ר לְנָבָ֛ל עַד־א֥וֹר הַבֹּ֖קֶר מַשְׁתִּ֥ין בְּקִֽיר:
35And David took from her hand that which she had brought him, and he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See that I have hearkened to your voice and have shown you favor."   להוַיִּקַּ֚ח דָּוִד֙ מִיָּדָ֔הּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־הֵבִ֖יאָה ל֑וֹ וְלָ֣הּ אָמַ֗ר עֲלִ֚י לְשָׁלוֹם֙ לְבֵיתֵ֔ךְ רְאִי֙ שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי בְקוֹלֵ֔ךְ וָאֶשָּׂ֖א פָּנָֽיִךְ:
36And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he had a feast in his house like the feast of the king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, and he was very drunk. And she did not tell him anything, less or more until daybreak.   לווַתָּבֹ֣א אֲבִיגַ֣יִל | אֶל־נָבָ֡ל וְהִנֵּה־לוֹ֩ מִשְׁתֶּ֨ה בְּבֵית֜וֹ כְּמִשְׁתֵּ֣ה הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְלֵ֚ב נָבָל֙ ט֣וֹב עָלָ֔יו וְה֥וּא שִׁכֹּ֖ר עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וְלֹֽא־הִגִּ֣ידָה לּ֗וֹ דָּבָ֥ר קָטֹ֛ן וְגָד֖וֹל עַד־א֥וֹר הַבֹּֽקֶר:
37And it was in the morning, when the wine had left Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became like stone.   לזוַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֗קֶר בְּצֵ֚את הַיַּ֙יִן֙ מִנָּבָ֔ל וַתַּגֶּד־ל֣וֹ אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיָּ֚מָת לִבּוֹ֙ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ וְה֖וּא הָיָ֥ה לְאָֽבֶן:
when the wine had left Nabal: when the effect of the wine had left Nabal (from Jonathan).   בצאת היין מנבל: (תרגום:) כד פג חמרא מנבל:
and his heart died: (He became paralyzed and lifeless, because) he was shocked concerning the gift which had been brought to David.   וימת לבו: שנצטער על המנחה שהובאת לדוד:
38And it was just ten days after, that the Lord inflicted a stroke on Nabal, and he died.   לחוַיְהִ֖י כַּעֲשֶֹ֣רֶת הַיָּמִ֑ים וַיִּגֹּ֧ף יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־נָבָ֖ל וַיָּמֹֽת:
just ten days after: The Holy One Blessed be He suspended his sentence until after Samuel’s mourning period, lest the mourning period of this wicked man coincide with his mourning period. Afterward, He reprieved him for three days and he died, as it is stated: And the Lord inflicted a stroke upon Nabal, and the Rabbi said: If one was ill three days and died, this is a death of a stroke (or a plague). Our Rabbis stated: These are the Ten Days of Repentance (between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, cf. supra v. 8) which the Holy One Blessed be He waited for him to repent. Some say that they correspond to the meals which Nabal gave David’s servants for David had sent him ten youths (supra v. 5), and he fed them (v. 9 “and they rested” meaning that he gave them refreshments).   כעשרת הימים: שבעת ימי אבלו של שמואל תלה לו הקב"ה, שלא יתערב אבל רשע באבלו, ואחר כך חלה שלשה ימים ומת, כענין שנאמר: ויגוף ה' את נבל, ואמר מר (שמחות ג ט): חלה שלשה ימים ומת, זו היא מיתת מגפה. ורבותינו אמרו (ראש השנה יח א): אלו עשרת ימי תשובה, שהמתין לו הקב"ה שיחזור בתשובה. ויש אומרים: כנגד עשר לגימות שנתן נבל לעבדי דוד, ששלח לו דוד עשרה נערים והאכילן:
39And David heard that Nabal had died, and he said, "Blessed is the Lord, Who has judged the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and restrained His bondsman from evil, and returned Nabal's evil upon his own head." And David sent, and spoke concerning Abigail to take her to him for a wife.   לטוַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע דָּוִד֘ כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת נָבָל֒ וַיֹּ֡אמֶר בָּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֡ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָב֩ אֶת־רִ֨יב חֶרְפָּתִ֜י מִיַּ֣ד נָבָ֗ל וְאֶת־עַבְדּוֹ֙ חָשַֹ֣ךְ מֵֽרָעָ֔ה וְאֵת֙ רָעַ֣ת נָבָ֔ל הֵשִׁ֥יב יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח דָּוִד֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר בַּאֲבִיגַ֔יִל לְקַחְתָּ֥הּ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
the cause of my reproach: my insult which he insulted me today, (by saying, Who is David and who is the son of Jesse?). Nowadays there are many slaves who break away (supra v. 10).   את ריב חרפתי: גדופי שחרפני (לעיל פסוק י): היום רבו עבדים המתפרצים:
and restrained His bondsman from evil: that I did not kill him.   ואת עבדו חשך מרעה: שלא הרגתיו:
40And David's servants came to Abigail, to Carmel, and spoke to her, saying, "David has sent us to you to take you to him for a wife."   מוַיָּבֹ֜אוּ עַבְדֵ֥י דָוִ֛ד אֶל־אֲבִיגַ֖יִל הַכַּרְמֶ֑לָה וַיְדַבְּר֚וּ אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר דָּוִד֙ שְׁלָחָ֣נוּ אֵלַ֔יִךְ לְקַחְתֵּ֥ךְ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
41And she arose, and prostrated herself upon her face to the ground, and said, "Behold, your bondswoman is a slave to wash the feet of my lord's servants."   מאוַתָּ֕קָם וַתִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ אַפַּ֖יִם אָ֑רְצָה וַתֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֚ה אֲמָֽתְךָ֙ לְשִׁפְחָ֔ה לִרְחֹ֕ץ רַגְלֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי:
42And she hastened, and mounted the donkey with her five maidens who went with her. And she went after David's messengers, and became his wife.   מבוַתְּמַהֵ֞ר וַתָּ֣קָם אֲבִיגַ֗יִל וַתִּרְכַּב֙ עַֽל־הַחֲמ֔וֹר וְחָמֵשׁ֙ נַעֲרֹתֶ֔יהָ הַהֹלְכ֖וֹת לְרַגְלָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֗לֶךְ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ מַלְאֲכֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד וַתְּהִי־ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
43And David took Ahinoam from Jezreel, and they both became his wives.   מגוְאֶת־אֲחִינֹ֛עַם לָקַ֥ח דָּוִ֖ד מִֽיִּזְרְעֶ֑אל וַתִּהְיֶ֛יןָ גַּֽם־שְׁתֵּיהֶ֥ן ל֖וֹ לְנָשִֽׁים:
44And Saul had given his daughter, Michal, wife of David, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.   מדוְשָׁא֗וּל נָתַ֛ן אֶת־מִיכַ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ אֵ֣שֶׁת דָּוִ֑ד לְפַלְטִ֥י בֶן־לַ֖יִשׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִגַּלִּֽים: