25:3 Nabal. In v. 25 Abigail explains the name as meaning “folly.” If it seems unlikely that parents would name a child “fool,” it may simply be that this is a disparaging play on a name which sounded like “fool.”

Calebite. On Caleb’s tribal holdings, see Josh. 14:13; 15:13. The similarity of the name “Caleb” to the Hebrew word for “dog” (cf. 24:14 note) may account for the inclusion of this particular detail in the introduction of Nabal.