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37 In the morning, when Nabal was sober,[a] his wife told him about these matters. He had a stroke and was paralyzed.[b] 38 After about ten days the Lord struck Nabal down and he died.

39 When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, “Praised be the Lord who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from Nabal![c] The Lord has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.”[d] Then David sent word to Abigail and asked her to become his wife.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 25:37 tn Heb “when the wine had gone out from Nabal.”
  2. 1 Samuel 25:37 tn Heb “and his heart died within him and he became a stone.” Cf. TEV, NLT “stroke”; CEV “heart attack.” For an alternative interpretation than that presented above, see Marjorie O’Rourke Boyle, “The Law of the Heart: The Death of a Fool (1 Samuel 25),” JBL 120 (2001): 401-27, who argues that a medical diagnosis is not necessary here. Instead, the passage makes a connection between the heart and the law; Nabal dies for his lawlessness.
  3. 1 Samuel 25:39 tn Heb “who has argued the case of my insult from the hand of Nabal.”
  4. 1 Samuel 25:39 tn Heb “his servant he has held back from evil, and the evil of Nabal the Lord has turned back on his head.”

37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone.(A) 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck(B) Nabal and he died.

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”

Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.

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