And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
There was a man who lived in Maon, but his property and business were in Carmel. This man was very wealthy and owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At this time, he was in Carmel shearing his sheep.
This verse introduces a very wealthy livestock owner who was busy with the seasonal work of sheep shearing.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 1 Samuel, this verse introduces Nabal, a wealthy man from Maon who owned large flocks in the area of Carmel, during a time when David was fleeing from King Saul and living as a fugitive in the Judean wilderness. Sheep shearing was a significant seasonal event in ancient Israelite culture, often associated with prosperity, feasting, and social interactions among herders. This sets the stage for the conflict that arises between David and Nabal, highlighting themes of hospitality and divine justice in a tribal society.
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