Nabal Mocks David's Anointing and the Law of Capital Cases

Midrash Shmuel 23:10

"And Nabal answered David's servants and said, Who is David, etc." (1 Samuel 25:10) — Is he secure [except] on the two drops with which Samuel anointed [him]? Where is Samuel, and where are the drops? "And I will take my bread and my water, etc." (ibid. 25:11) — Rabbi Aibu said: Every place where water is mentioned, it is wine; only the verses changed [so as not] to mention wine. "And David said to his men, Gird every man his sword, [and they girded every man his sword, and David also girded his sword]" (ibid. 25:13) — Rabbi Yehuda ben Pappos said: From here, regarding capital cases, that they begin from the side.

Themes

Biblical References