1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
Original Language Analysis
וַתְּמַהֵ֣ר
made haste
H4116
וַתְּמַהֵ֣ר
made haste
Strong's:
H4116
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e., (by implication)
אֲבִוֹגַ֡יִל
Then Abigail
H26
אֲבִוֹגַ֡יִל
Then Abigail
Strong's:
H26
Word #:
2 of 21
abigail or abigal, the name of two israelitesses
וּמָאתַ֣יִם
and two hundred
H3967
וּמָאתַ֣יִם
and two hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
4 of 21
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
לֶ֜חֶם
loaves
H3899
לֶ֜חֶם
loaves
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
5 of 21
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
נִבְלֵי
bottles
H5035
נִבְלֵי
bottles
Strong's:
H5035
Word #:
7 of 21
a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); also a lyre (as having a body of like form)
צֹ֤אן
sheep
H6629
צֹ֤אן
sheep
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
10 of 21
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
עֲשׂוּוֹת֙
ready dressed
H6213
עֲשׂוּוֹת֙
ready dressed
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
11 of 21
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
סְאִים֙
measures
H5429
סְאִים֙
measures
Strong's:
H5429
Word #:
13 of 21
a seah, or certain measure (as determinative) for grain
וּמָאתַ֣יִם
and two hundred
H3967
וּמָאתַ֣יִם
and two hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
15 of 21
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
וּמָאתַ֣יִם
and two hundred
H3967
וּמָאתַ֣יִם
and two hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
17 of 21
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
וַתָּ֖שֶׂם
of figs and laid
H7760
וַתָּ֖שֶׂם
of figs and laid
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
19 of 21
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
Cross References
2 Samuel 16:1And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.Proverbs 18:16A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.Matthew 5:25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Historical Context
The quantities Abigail gathered would provide a substantial meal for David's entire band. The variety—bread, wine, meat, grain, dried fruit—represented comprehensive hospitality. Her ability to mobilize these resources quickly indicates household management skills.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Abigail's immediate action contrast with Nabal's obstinate refusal?
- What does her generous provision teach about responding to urgent situations?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
Abigail's response demonstrates wisdom in action. The Hebrew 'vatemaher' (made haste) indicates immediate response to urgent crisis. The provisions she gathers are substantial: two hundred loaves, two skin-bottles of wine, five prepared sheep, five seahs of grain, one hundred raisin clusters, two hundred fig cakes. This represents generous provision for David's band—far exceeding his modest request for 'whatever comes to hand.' Loading these on donkeys enabled rapid transport. Abigail's quick decision-making and resource mobilization display the 'good understanding' the narrator attributed to her (v. 3). She acted decisively while Nabal remained oblivious.