Bought (1)
The Bought of a Sling
In 1 Samuel 25:29, Abigail speaks to David using a remarkable metaphor: "The soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling" (KJV). The King James marginal reading uses the phrase "the bought of a sling" for the central pouch that holds the stone. Modern translations render this as "the hollow of a sling" (ESV) or simply describe the middle portion of the weapon.
What Is the Bought?
The word "bought" in this context is an archaic English term for a bend, loop, or fold, derived from the idea of something that bows or curves. In the case of a sling, the bought refers to the leather or woven pouch in the center of two cords where the slinger places the stone before whirling and releasing it. The Hebrew word behind it is tawekh, meaning "middle" or "midst." The bought was the critical part of the sling: it cradled the projectile securely during the spin and released it at exactly the right moment.
Abigail's Encounter with David
The context of this passage is one of the most dramatic episodes in David's life before becoming king. David and his men had protected the flocks of Nabal, a wealthy but foolish man, in the wilderness. When David sent messengers requesting provisions, Nabal insulted them and refused (1 Samuel 25:10-11). David angrily set out with 400 armed men to destroy Nabal's household. Abigail, Nabal's wise wife, quickly gathered provisions and intercepted David, delivering one of the most eloquent speeches in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 25:23-31).
The Metaphor of Protection and Judgment
Abigail's sling metaphor contains a powerful double image. On one hand, the soul of David is "bound in the bundle of the living" with the Lord, meaning God holds David's life securely, like a precious treasure wrapped in a protective bundle. On the other hand, David's enemies will be flung away like a stone from a sling, cast out and discarded. The contrast is striking: David is held close and safe, while his enemies are hurled into destruction. This image would have resonated powerfully with David, who as a shepherd boy had used a sling to defeat Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49-50).
Slings in the Ancient World
The sling was one of the most effective weapons in the ancient Near East. Made from two cords attached to a leather pouch, it could hurl stones at tremendous speed and accuracy. The tribe of Benjamin was famous for its left-handed slingers who could hit a target within a hair's breadth (Judges 20:16). Ancient armies employed dedicated slinger units alongside archers and infantry. Archaeological finds throughout Israel and the broader region include smooth sling stones, often found in battlefield contexts, confirming the weapon's widespread military use.
The Enduring Image
Abigail's words about the bought of a sling have resonated throughout Jewish and Christian tradition. The phrase "bound in the bundle of the living" became a standard Jewish epitaph, often abbreviated on tombstones as the Hebrew letters for "May his/her soul be bound in the bundle of life." This tradition shows how deeply Abigail's image of divine protection penetrated the religious consciousness of God's people, transforming a military metaphor into a prayer of hope for eternal safekeeping in God's care.
Biblical Context
The bought of a sling appears in 1 Samuel 25:29 as part of Abigail's speech to David. The passage falls within the broader narrative of David's fugitive years (1 Samuel 21-31) before becoming king. The sling imagery connects to David's earlier defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49-50) and to the broader biblical theme of God as protector and judge. The Benjamite slingers of Judges 20:16 provide additional background on the weapon's significance.
Theological Significance
Abigail's metaphor teaches that God actively protects those who belong to Him while executing judgment on the wicked. The image of being bound in the bundle of the living expresses the security of those who are in God's care, a concept later developed in the New Testament as being held in God's hand (John 10:28-29). The contrasting image of enemies flung from a sling affirms that God's justice will ultimately prevail against those who oppose His purposes.
Historical Background
Slings were among the earliest projectile weapons, with evidence dating to the Neolithic period. In the ancient Near East, they remained in military use from the Bronze Age through the Roman period. Assyrian reliefs depict slinger units in siege warfare. Archaeological excavations at Israelite sites have uncovered stockpiles of rounded sling stones, particularly at fortified cities. The leather pouch (bought) of a sling was typically made from animal hide and was the most carefully crafted component, as its shape and release characteristics determined accuracy.