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1 Samuel 25:20

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 25:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it was so, as she rode on her ass, and came down by the covert of the mountain, that, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it was so, as she rode on her ass, and came down by the covert of the mountain, that, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.
1 Samuel 25:20 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 25

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house: for he is such a worthless fellow, that one cannot speak to him.
18Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
19And she said unto her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
20And it was so, as she rode on her ass, and came down by the covert of the mountain, that, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.
21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good.
22God do so unto the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light so much as one man-child.
23And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
← 1 Samuel 25:191 Samuel 25:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it was [so, as] she rode on the ass, etc.] After her servants: that she came down, by the covert of the hill; by the side of it, which was covered with bushes, and she rode among them, in a way that led through them, and so was not seen by David and his men; or by the shadow of the hill, toward the bottom of it, where by reason of that, and the opposite hill, it was darkish, and they could not see each other: and, behold, David and his men came down against her; came down a hill opposite to that she came down: and she met them; in the valley between two hills.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The covert of the hill - Probably a defile or glen, literally a “secret place,” as in 1 Samuel 19:2. She was riding down into this glen from one side, while David and his men were descending the opposite hill. It is perhaps mentioned that she came by this “secret place,” because she chose this path to escape the observation of her husband or of anyone else. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“rode: Kg2 4:24 she came down: David was coming down mount Paran; Abigail was coming down from Carmel. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 25:21”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 25 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification