3:18 So Samuel told him everything. He did not hold back anything from him. Eli 1 said, “The Lord will do what he pleases.” 2
11:4 When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) 3 and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly. 4
18:26 So his servants told David these things and David agreed 6 to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired 7
21:12 David thought about what they said 8 and was very afraid of King Achish of Gath.
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Eli) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “what is good in his eyes.”
3 tn Heb “to Gibeah of Saul.”
4 tn Heb “lifted their voice and wept.”
5 tn Heb “in the ears of.”
7 tn Heb “and it was acceptable in the eyes of David.”
8 tn Heb “the days were not fulfilled.”
9 tn Heb “placed these matters in his heart.”
11 tn Heb “when the wine had gone out from Nabal.”
12 tn Heb “and his heart died within him and he became a stone.” Cf. TEV, NLT “stroke”; CEV “heart attack.” For an alternative interpretation than that presented above, see Marjorie O’Rourke Boyle, “The Law of the Heart: The Death of a Fool (1 Samuel 25),” JBL 120 (2001): 401-27, who argues that a medical diagnosis is not necessary here. Instead, the passage makes a connection between the heart and the law; Nabal dies for his lawlessness.