1 Samuel 25:1-12
Samuel <08050> [A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060. An. Ex. Is 431. Samuel.]
mourned <05594> [lamented.]
[in this house.]
desert <04057> [the wilderness.]
Maon <04584> [Maon.]
business .... Carmel ......................... Carmel <04639 03760> [possessions were. or, business was. Carmel.]
Not the famous mount Carmel, in the north of Canaan, and in the tribe of Asher; but a city, on a mountain of the same name, in the south of Judah, which seems to have given name to the surrounding territory. Eusebius and Jerome inform us, that there was in their time a town called Carmelia, ten miles east from Hebron, where the Romans kept a garrison, whose position well agrees with this Carmel.
man .......... man <0376> [man.]
three thousand ..... thousand <0505 07969> [three thousand.]
shearing <01494> [shearing.]
This was a very ancient custom, and appears to have been always attended with festivity. The ancient Romans, however, used to pluck off the wool from the sheep's backs; and hence a fleece was called {vellus,} a {vellendo,} from plucking it off. Pliny says, that in his time sheep were not shorn every where, but in some places the wool was still plucked off.
Carmel ......................... Carmel <03760> [Carmel.]
wise <02896> [good.]
harsh <07186> [was churlish.]
<03614> [and he was.]
{Wehoo calibbee,} literally, "and he was a Calebite;" but as the word {cailev} signifies a dog, the Septuagint has understood it as implying a man of canine disposition, and translated it, [kai anthropov kunikos,] "and he was a doggish man." It is understood in the same way by the Syriac and Arabic.
shearing <01494> [did shear.]
give ...... name <07592 08034> [greet him, etc. Heb. ask him in my name of peace.]
brother <02416> [liveth.]
Peace ....... Peace <07965> [Peace be both.]
shepherds <07462> [thy shepherds.]
In those times, and at the present day, wandering Arabs, under their several chiefs, think that they have a right to exact contributions of provisions, etc., wherever they come. But David, though he lived in the wilderness like the Arab emirs, had not adopted their manners: one of them, at the head of 600 men, would have demanded, from time to time, some provision or present from Nabal's servants, for permitting them to feed at quiet; and would have driven them away from the watering place upon any dislike. David had done nothing of this kind; but had protected them against those who would.
insulted <03637> [we hurt. Heb. we shamed.]
time .... holiday <03117 02896> [a good day.]
son <01121> [thy son.]
paused <05117> [ceased. Heb. rested. or, became quiet.]
David's ..... David <01732> [Who is David.]
<07231> [there be.]
take <03947> [Shall I then.]
meat <02878> [flesh. Heb. slaughter. give it.]
know <03045> [whom.]
came <0935> [came.]
