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Nabal Is A Fool - 1 Sam. 25
Nabal Is A Fool – 1 Sam. 25
In 1 Samuel 25, we are introduced to a man named Nabal. It is interesting that his name basically means 'fool'. It makes one wonder if this was his 'given' name or a 'nickname'. One commentator suggests that is might be a popular distortion of his real name*. Whatever the case, it is used consistently in this story, some 21 times in the OT he is called by this name. His character fits his name. One of his servants stated: "he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him" (25:17). Thus, even his wife would say to David: "Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him...." (1 Samuel 25:25)
One of the hallmarks of a fool according to Proverbs is this unwillingness to take instruction or advice. Such foolishness is not due to lack of ability to learn, but a chosen course of life.
Proverbs 1:5 - "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,"
Proverbs 9:8–9 - "Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning."
Proverbs 12:15 - "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel."
Proverbs 13:1 - "A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke."
Proverbs 17:10 - "A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool."
Proverbs 18:2 - "A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind."
Also, Proverbs encourages taking heed to counsel and advise:
Proverbs 8:33 - "“Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it."
Proverbs 19:20 - "Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days."
Baldwin writes of Nabal's error: "David sought the good of Nabal but received insults in return. David’s help to Nabal’s shepherds is put in more positive terms than David had used: his men were very good to us (once more the word ‘good’), and a wall (Heb. ḥômah) to us, that is, a protection, just as the sea had been a protection to the Israelites escaping from Egypt (Exod. 14:22, where the word ḥômah, ‘wall’, is also used)"*
The story unfolds that God himself punishes Nabal: "About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept back His servant from evil. The Lord has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” 1 Samuel 25:38–39
The application of this should be obvious: don't be a fool, seek good counsel, listen to wise men, head instruction. Hugh DeLong
*1 and 2 Samuel, An Introduction and Commentary, Joyce G. Baldwin, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Vol. 8, Logos edition.
