THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Indeed, considering that David vowed to take Nabal's life yet chose not to follow through out of kindness, should we really conclude that we ought to mirror David in this regard, making vows to act in ways we later discern as inappropriate? If Lot was stripped of his judgment by fear when he offered his daughters to the onlookers (See Genesis 19:8), then anger similarly clouded David’s judgment when he made a hastily spoken vow. If we could ask both of them why they acted as they did, one might respond, "Fear and trembling overwhelmed me, and dread filled my soul" (Psalms 54:6); the other could say, "My vision is dimmed by grief, I am worn down by all my adversaries" (Psalms 6:8).
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Thus, it is not surprising that one, enshrouded in phobias, and the other, with a spirit diminished, failed to perceive what should have been recognized to avoid wrongdoing. We might rightly suggest to David that he should not have allowed his anger to direct him, even against such an ungrateful man as Nabal, who returned evil for the good he had received. Although anger may have taken hold of him, he should not have allowed himself to be so dominated as to make a solemn vow to God regarding actions he might either carry out in his fury or ultimately choose not to perform, and then become an oath-breaker by failing to uphold his word.