1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 25:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And when Abigail saw David, she made haste and lighted off the ass, and fell before David, on her face, and adored upon the ground.
Douay-Rheims

וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֲבִיגַ֙יִל֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וַתְּמַהֵ֕ר וַתֵּ֖רֶד מֵעַ֣ל הַחֲמ֑וֹר וַתִּפֹּ֞ל לְאַפֵּ֤י דָוִד֙ עַל־פָּנֶ֔יהָ וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָֽרֶץ׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

Abigail's intervention teaches us that we should not only have faith in unexpected intercessions but also celebrate them. David was so filled with joy that he praised the one who disrupted his plans, as she prevented him from seeking vengeance.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

1 Sam 20:41And when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place, which was toward the south, and falling on his face to the ground, adored thrice: and kissing one another, they wept together; but David more.
Judg 1:14And as she was going on her way, her husband admonished her to ask a field of her father. And as she sighed sitting on her ass, Caleb said to her: What aileth thee?
Josh 15:18And as they were going together, she was moved by her husband to ask a field of her father, and she sighed as she sat on her ass. And Caleb said to her: What aileth thee?
1 Sam 24:8And David stopped his men with his words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul: but Saul, rising up out of the cave, went on his way.