And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
Parallel translations
- WEB David said to his men, “Every man put on his sword!” Every man put on his sword. David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David, and two hundred stayed by the baggage.
- BSB And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men put on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
- NKJV Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.
- NASB Then David said to his men, “Each of you strap on his sword.” So each man strapped on his sword. And David also strapped on his sword, and about four hundred men went up behind David, while two hundred stayed with the baggage.
- NLT “Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David, enraged, arms four hundred men to take revenge on Nabal. The future king is on the verge of shedding blood in personal vengeance.
Overview
Stung by the insult, David musters his fighters and prepares to attack Nabal's household, a rash plan to avenge himself by the sword. This is a dangerous lapse from the restraint he showed toward Saul, revealing that even a man after God's own heart is vulnerable to anger. The episode sets up God's gracious intervention through Abigail to keep David from a grievous sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Sam 23:13Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
- Jas 1:19–20Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
- Josh 9:14And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
- 1 Sam 30:21–24And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.
- Prov 19:2Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
- Prov 19:11The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
- Rom 12:19–21Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- 1 Sam 30:9–10So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
- Prov 14:29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- 1 Sam 24:5–6And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
- Prov 25:8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
- Prov 16:32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 25:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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