Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Foolish, a descendant of Caleb who dwelt at Maon (1 Sam. 25), the modern Main, 7 miles south-east of Hebron. ” (1 Sam. 25:10, 11). One of the shepherds that stood by and saw the reception David’s messengers had met with, informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who at once realized the danger that threatened her household. She forthwith proceeded to the camp of David, bringing with her ample stores of provisions (25:18). ” On her return she found her husband incapable from drunkenness of understanding the state of matters, and not till the following day did she explain to him what had happened.
He was stunned by a sense of the danger to which his conduct had exposed him. ” and about ten days after “the Lord smote Nabal that he died” (1 Sam. 25:37, 38). ).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(fool) was a sheepmaster on the confines of Judea and the desert, in that part of the country which bore from its great conqueror the name of Caleb. ) His residence was on the southern Carmel, in the pasture lands of Maon. His wealth, as might be expected from his abode, consisted chiefly of sheep and goats.
It was the custom of the shepherds to drive them into the wild downs on the slopes of Carmel; and it was whilst they were on one of these pastoral excursions that they met a band of outlaws, who showed them unexpected kindness, protecting them by day and night, and never themselves committing any depredations. ” ch. ” The great sheepmaster peremptorily refused. The moment that the messengers were gone, the shepherds that stood by perceived the danger that their master and themselves would incur. To Nabal himself they durst not speak. ch.
(1 Samuel 25:17) To his wife, as to the good angel of the household, one of the shepherds told the state of affairs. She, with the offerings usual on such occasions, with her attendants running before her, rode down the hill toward David’s encampment. David had already made the fatal vow of extermination. ch. (1 Samuel 26:22) At this moment, as it would seem, Abigail appeared, threw herself on her face before him, and poured forth her petition in language which in both form and expression almost assumes the tone of poetry. She returned with the news of David’s recantation of his vow.
Nabal was then at the height of his orgies and his wife dared not communicate to him either his danger or his escape. ch. (1 Samuel 28:36) At break of day she told him both. The stupid reveller was suddenly roused to a sense of that which impended over him. ” It was as if a stroke of apoplexy or paralysis had fallen upon him. ” ch.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
NA'BAL (fool), a very wealthy citizen of Maon, whose property, consisting of 3000 sheep and l000 goats, was in Carmel. 1 Sam 25:2-3. When he was shearing his sheep, David sent ten of his young men to ask him in the most courteous manner for supplies; but Nabal, who was proverbially churlish, refused, in the most offensive terms, to grant his request. David immediately ordered 400 of his men to arm themselves, and set out with the resolution to destroy Nabal and his property.
Abigail, the discreet and beautiful wife of this son of Belial, admonished of their purpose, promptly made up a sumptuous present, and set forth to meet David and to appease him with the gifts. Her mission was entirely successful. On returning to her home she found her husband at a feast and drunk, and waited till the following morning to apprise him of what had occurred. Nabal had no sooner received her statement than he was seized with a severe illness, which proved fatal at the end of ten days, and was regarded by David as the immediate judgment of God upon his sins. 1 Sam 25:39.
Nabal is the type of a selfish, cruel, and churlish property-holder.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
fool; senseless