提要
撒母耳卒於大衛在曠野漂流期間；所有以色列民都為這位偉大神人的謝世而悲傷哀號。從但到別是巴一定都有代表來參加撒母耳的葬禮，因為他被視為以色列國的屬靈領袖（3：20）。他幫助以色列國統一，也帶來宗教上的復興。在以色列的歷史上，撒母耳是繼摩西之後最被尊崇的人之一。他有高貴的品格和純潔的心地，從幼年起，撒母耳就曉得愛上帝、敬畏上帝。他是一個禱告的人，有非凡的信心。他勇敢無畏的宣講上帝的話，智慧的施行公平之義，並且總是順服上帝，為上帝的榮耀大發熱心。撒母耳膏了以色列的頭兩位國王，上帝大大的使用他帶領以色列更進一步走入上帝救贖計畫的大道。 雖然大衛是個逃犯，但他率領的那群徒眾不像其他在曠野流浪、經常偷竊擄掠的匪徒。大衛和他的人馬保護富戶拿八的牧人和牲畜不遭擄掠；當他們在同一地區放牧時，大衛的人也沒有奪取拿八的牲畜。大衛值得拿八大大感激和報答，他也很自然的期待拿八會樂於供應他們食物過節。誰知拿八不但拒絕給他們任何東西，反而還羞辱了大衛一番。
希伯來文「拿八」的意思是「愚頑」，不只表示愚笨、粗魯、吝嗇，也有剛愎、不虔誠的含意。不過拿八美麗的太太亞比該與他卻完全相反。亞比該聰慧、機智、仁慈又慷慨。她也是一位敬虔的婦人，極其尊敬大衛和上帝對大衛的呼召──她知道大衛終必作王。亞比該迅速的行動挽救了她全家，她也為上帝所用，阻止大衛得罪上帝和以色列民。
亞比該用智慧的話撫平大衛的怒氣，使大衛明瞭，伸冤、報仇在上帝，而不當由他出手。如果大衛真的對拿八家採取暴力行動，必有無辜的人被殺，也必造成猶大支派中派系的宿怨，因而削弱支持大衛的力量（大衛的支持者主要來自猶太支派）。亞比該更提醒大衛，他的良心將因流無辜人的血而痛苦。大衛的反應表現出他同意亞比該的論點，也感謝她的提醒。大衛對亞比該留下深刻的印象，當他聽說拿八死後，便想娶亞比該為妻。亞比該尊重上帝，所以上帝也重看她。
上帝的審判臨到拿八。當拿八聽說他妻子的行動打消了大衛的怒氣，他一定也瞭解到，因著他的自私和愚昧，差點使他喪失了一切所有。拿八驚嚇過度，可能造成他中風或者心臟病猝死。這個事件表明，鄙視上帝所揀選、膏立的王是一件多麼嚴重的事。更嚴重的是拒絕萬王之王，被膏的耶穌基督。
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Overview
During the period of David's hiding in the wilderness, Samuel died. All Israel was saddened and mourned the passing of this great man of God. Surely there were delegates from Dan to Beersheba present at his burial, because he had been accepted as the spiritual leader of the nation (3:20). He helped to unify the nation and bring religious reformation. In the history of Israel, Samuel is one of the most honoured men, after Moses. He had a noble character and pure heart. From his childhood he had learned to love and fear God. He grew to be a man of prayer and great faith. He declared the words of the Lord fearlessly and wisely administered justice. He was zealous to always glorify the Lord and be obedient to Him. Samuel anointed the first two kings of Israel, and God used him in a tremendous way to bring Israel further along the path in God's plan of salvation and redemption.
David, though a fugitive with a band of men, was unlike the other leaders of bands that would roam about in the wilderness regions, often raiding and stealing. He gave protection from raiders to the shepherds and livestock of the wealthy farmer Nabal and did not take any of his livestock while they were grazing in the same territory. Considering his kind service, which should have been greatly appreciated and rewarded, it was natural for David to expect that Nabal would be glad to provide them food for the feast. But Nabal refused to give them anything and even showed contempt for David.
The Hebrew name Nabal, translated "fool", denotes not only stupidity but moral perversity and irreligiousness; it is also descriptive of a rude, stingy person. Nabal's beautiful wife Abigail, however, was just the opposite. She was wise, intelligent, and tactful, as well as gracious and generous. She was also a godly woman who had great repect for David and the calling of God upon his life, which she knew to be eventual kingship. Her quick thinking saved her household from David's wrath, and she was used of the Lord to prevent David from sinning against God and his people.
Abigail's wisely chosen words calmed David's anger and made him realize that any revenge should be done by the hand of the Lord and not his own (25:33). If David had carried out his violent plans on the household of Nabal, innocent people would have been killed and a blood feud would have begun among the clans of his own tribe of Judah, thus weakening his support, which mainly came from that tribe. Abigail also reasoned that David's own conscience would suffer greatly if he did such a thing. David's response shows he agreed with her and was grateful for her intercession. He was so impressed with her that, after he heard she was widowed, he wanted her for his wife. Abigail honoured God, and thus God honoured her.
God's judgment upon Nabal came when he heard about the actions of his wife which had turned away David's wrath. He may have realized that his selfishness and foolishness nearly cost him all he had, and because of the shock he likely suffered a stroke or heart attack which proved to be fatal. This incident shows how serious it was to treat the Lord's chosen and anointed king with contempt. Even more so, it is serious to reject the Anointed One, the King of kings, Jesus Christ.
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