1 Samuel 25:2
And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָאִישׁ֙
And there was a man
H376
וְהָאִישׁ֙
And there was a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
1 of 18
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)
בְּמָע֜וֹן
in Maon
H4584
בְּמָע֜וֹן
in Maon
Strong's:
H4584
Word #:
2 of 18
maon, the name of an israelite and of a place in palestine
וּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֣הוּ
whose possessions
H4639
וּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֣הוּ
whose possessions
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
3 of 18
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
בַּכַּרְמֶֽל׃
in Carmel
H3760
בַּכַּרְמֶֽל׃
in Carmel
Strong's:
H3760
Word #:
4 of 18
karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in palestine
וְהָאִישׁ֙
And there was a man
H376
וְהָאִישׁ֙
And there was a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
5 of 18
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)
מְאֹ֔ד
was very
H3966
מְאֹ֔ד
was very
Strong's:
H3966
Word #:
7 of 18
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
צֹאנ֖וֹ
his sheep
H6629
צֹאנ֖וֹ
his sheep
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
9 of 18
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת
and he had three
H7969
שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת
and he had three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
10 of 18
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
וְאֶ֣לֶף
and a thousand
H505
וְאֶ֣לֶף
and a thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
11 of 18
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וְאֶ֣לֶף
and a thousand
H505
וְאֶ֣לֶף
and a thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
12 of 18
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
עִזִּ֑ים
goats
H5795
עִזִּ֑ים
goats
Strong's:
H5795
Word #:
13 of 18
a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)
וַיְהִ֛י
H1961
וַיְהִ֛י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
14 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בִּגְזֹ֥ז
and he was shearing
H1494
בִּגְזֹ֥ז
and he was shearing
Strong's:
H1494
Word #:
15 of 18
to cut off; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Joshua 15:55Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,1 Samuel 23:24And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.Genesis 38:13And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.Job 42:12So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.Job 1:3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.Genesis 13:2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.Genesis 26:13And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:1 Samuel 30:5And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.2 Samuel 19:32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.Psalms 17:14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
Historical Context
Sheep shearing was an annual event requiring many workers and typically accompanied by feasting and gift-giving. The wealth described made Nabal one of the region's most prominent men. Maon and Carmel were in the wilderness region where David's band operated.
Questions for Reflection
- What responsibilities accompany significant wealth in biblical perspective?
- How does the narrative's focus on Nabal's possessions rather than character foreshadow the story's conflict?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
The narrative introduces Nabal through his wealth rather than his character. The Hebrew 'gadol me'od' (very great) describes material prosperity. Three thousand sheep and one thousand goats represented substantial wealth in pastoral economy. The distinction between residence (Maon) and possessions (Carmel) indicates a wealthy landowner with distributed holdings. Sheep shearing was a festive season—a time of celebration, feasting, and generosity. Carmel here refers to the town in Judah's hill country, not the northern mountain. This prosperous setting establishes the context for David's reasonable request and Nabal's unreasonable refusal.