Why Nabal Died Ten Days After Insulting David

"And it came to pass about ten days later, that the LORD smote Nabal, and he died" (I Samuel 25:38). It was taught in a baraita: One who dies after one day — it is a death of wrath; after two days — a death of terror; after three days — a death of plague. Rabbi Ḥalafta ben Shaul taught: One who dies after four days — a death by excision; after five — a death of being thrust away; after six — the death stated in the matter; after seven — a death of affection; from then onward, he died through sufferings. What did you see to say that one who dies after three days died of plague? Ḥalfoy, the son of the son of Rabbi Abbahu, said: I heard the voice of the elders expounding, "And it came to pass about ten days later, etc." — The Holy One, blessed be He, suspended for him the seven days of Samuel's mourning, so that his mourning would not be mingled with the mourning of a righteous one, and He added a further three days, and he died by excision. Rabbi Ḥaggai in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: "Ten days" is not written here, but rather "about ten days" — the Holy One, blessed be He, suspended for him ten days, those from Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur; He supposed that he would repent, but he did not repent.