Articles
Nabal Was A Fool
Nabal Was A Fool
1 Samuel 25
While David and his men were avoiding Saul, they lived in the region where Nabal lived. Nabal was very rich but Nabal was a fool. David and his men had protected the servants of Nabal while they watched over his animals. David's men took nothing during all this time. Now David requests that Nabal would share a bit of his wealth to take care of the temporary living needs of David and his men. Nabal refused to return the kindness of David. As David marched 400 of his men towards Nabal's camp with the intent of wiping it out, a servant of Nabal hurries to the wife of Nabal to inform her of what is happening.
Upon arriving he warns her about what David was going to do. Then he adds concerning Nabal: "he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him" (1Sam. 25:17). When Abigal meets David she says of her husband: "Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him" 1 Sam.25:25. The name Nabal means “foolish” or “boorish”. While it is hard to imagine a situation where anyone would name their son this (there may have been a Hebrew name that is no long known that had a different meaning), truly the name DID fit his character. He was a fool.
The proverbs constantly warn about the fool. Such are not unable to learn, they are those who refuse to learn. One of the words for fool in the book of Proverbs IS "nabal". Derek Kidner wrote concerning a similar word for fool in Proverbs: "The feature that seems specially prominent is his moral insolence: from his first appearance onwards he is impatient of all advice". Such a fool is so set in his own ways that the Proverb writer stated: "Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him" (Prov. 27:22).
The following characteristics of a fool are laid out by the Proverb writer.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Proverbs 10:8
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15
Indeed, Nabal was known as a man that it did no good to speak to. Abigal knew that so well she could simply state that 'as his name is, so is he". There are yet many such men that could wear the name Nabal. We all have had our moments where the name would fit. While we must be discerning in our listening to advice, it is indeed foolish to not listen at all.
