1 Samuel 25:38
And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֖י
H1961
וַיְהִ֖י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 8
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת
And it came to pass about ten
H6235
כַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת
And it came to pass about ten
Strong's:
H6235
Word #:
2 of 8
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
הַיָּמִ֑ים
days
H3117
הַיָּמִ֑ים
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 8
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וַיִּגֹּ֧ף
smote
H5062
וַיִּגֹּ֧ף
smote
Strong's:
H5062
Word #:
4 of 8
to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease)
יְהוָ֛ה
after that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
after that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 8
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
The narrator's explicit attribution to divine action ('the LORD smote') interprets Nabal's death as judgment rather than natural causes. The ten-day interval matches ancient patterns of divine judgment allowing time for repentance that did not come.
Questions for Reflection
- How does divine judgment on Nabal vindicate David's decision not to take personal vengeance?
- What does 'the LORD smote' teach about trusting God to handle enemies?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
Divine judgment completes what David's restraint postponed. The Hebrew 'vayiggoph Yahweh' (the LORD smote) explicitly attributes Nabal's death to divine action. The ten-day interval between collapse and death allowed time for the connection between sin and judgment to be clear. God executed the vengeance David had surrendered. Abigail's prophecy—'let thine enemies be as Nabal' (v. 26)—proved accurate: God Himself dealt with Nabal. This divine judgment vindicated David's restraint: trusting God to avenge produced results human violence could not have achieved without guilt. The fool who refused to fear David's sword fell before God's invisible stroke.