1 Samuel 25:19
And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
Original Language Analysis
לִנְעָרֶ֙יהָ֙
unto her servants
H5288
לִנְעָרֶ֙יהָ֙
unto her servants
Strong's:
H5288
Word #:
2 of 11
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit
עִבְר֣וּ
Go on
H5674
עִבְר֣וּ
Go on
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
3 of 11
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
לְפָנַ֔י
before
H6440
לְפָנַ֔י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
4 of 11
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אַֽחֲרֵיכֶ֣ם
after
H310
אַֽחֲרֵיכֶ֣ם
after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
6 of 11
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
בָּאָ֑ה
me behold I come
H935
בָּאָ֑ה
me behold I come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
7 of 11
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וּלְאִישָׁ֥הּ
not her husband
H376
וּלְאִישָׁ֥הּ
not her husband
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
8 of 11
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Cross References
Genesis 32:20And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.Genesis 32:16And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern households expected wifely submission, but Abigail's action falls within recognized exceptions for preventing household disaster. Her silence toward Nabal reflects the servant's assessment that speaking to him was impossible. She acted to save, not to subvert.
Questions for Reflection
- When might emergency circumstances justify acting without consulting those in authority?
- What does Abigail's withholding information from Nabal teach about wisdom in impossible situations?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
Abigail's tactical approach continues her wisdom. Sending servants ahead with provisions allowed time for gifts to create favorable impression before her personal appeal. The Hebrew 'hinneni' (behold I) indicates she would follow shortly. The crucial detail—'she told not her husband Nabal'—reveals her assessment that informing him would only make matters worse. This action, bypassing her husband's authority in emergency, has occasioned much discussion. Given Nabal's characterization as a fool who 'cannot be spoken to,' Abigail's independent action represents wisdom responding to emergency rather than rebellious defiance. She saved her household when her husband's foolishness endangered it.