and said to her servants, “Go on ahead. I will follow you shortly.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.
Parallel translations
- WEB She said to her young men, “Go on before me. Behold, I am coming after you.” But she didn’t tell her husband, Nabal.
- KJV And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
- BSB and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
- NKJV And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
- NASB Then she said to her young men, “Go on ahead of me; behold, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
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
Abigail sends the gift ahead and follows, without telling Nabal. She acts decisively and discreetly to prevent bloodshed.
Overview
Abigail directs her servants to go before her with the provisions while she follows, deliberately keeping the plan from her foolish husband. Her discretion reflects sound judgment, knowing Nabal would only obstruct a wise course. Her bold initiative, undertaken to save the household, shows godly wisdom acting where folly would only destroy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Gen 32:20You shall say, ‘Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.’” For, he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”
- Gen 32:16He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.”
- Prov 31:27She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
- Prov 31:11–12The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
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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 25:19 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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