1 Samuel12
New American Standard
1Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice for all that you said to me, and I have appointed a king over you.
2Now, here is the king walking before you, but as for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. And I have walked before you since my youth to this day.
3Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I exploited? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to close my eyes with it? I will return it to you.”
4And they said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us, or taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
5So he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”
6Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.
7Now then, take your stand, so that I may enter into judgment with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord that He did for you and your fathers.
8When Jacob went into Egypt and your fathers cried out to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
9But they forgot the Lord their God, so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
10They cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have abandoned the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now save us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’
11Then the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and saved you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security.
12But when you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us!’ Yet the Lord your God was your king.
13And now, behold, the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, the Lord has put a king over you.
14If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God.
15But if you do not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, even as it was against your fathers.
16Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord is going to do before your eyes.
17Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord, that He will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the Lord, by asking for yourselves a king.”
18So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we do not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, by asking for ourselves a king.”
20Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
21Indeed, you must not turn aside, for then you would go after useless things which cannot benefit or save, because they are useless.
22For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.
23Furthermore, as for me, far be it from me that I would sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.
24Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
25But if you still do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 12.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Samuel testifies his integrity. (1–5). Samuel reproves the people. (6–15). Thunder sent in harvest time. (16–25).
vv1-5
Samuel not only cleared his own character, but set an example before Saul, while he showed the people their ingratitude to God and to himself. There is a just debt which all men to their own good name, especially men in public stations, which is, to guard it against unjust blame and suspicions, that they may finish their course with honour, as well as with joy. And that we have in our places lived honestly, will be our comfort, under any slights and contempt that may be put upon us.
vv6-15
The work of ministers is to reason with people; not only to exhort and direct, but to persuade, to convince men's judgments, and so to gain their wills and affections. Samuel reasons of the righteous acts of the Lord. Those who follow God faithfully, he will enable to continue following him. Disobedience would certainly be the ruin of Israel. We mistake if we think that we can escape God's justice, by trying to shake off his dominion. If we resolve that God shall not rule us, yet he will judge us.
vv16-25
At Samuel's word, God sent thunder and rain, at a season of the year when, in that country, the like was not seen. This was to convince them they had done wickedly in asking a king; not only by its coming at an unusual time, in wheat harvest, and on a clear day, but by the prophet's giving notice of it before. He showed their folly in desiring a king to save them, rather than God, or Samuel; promising themselves more from an arm of flesh, than from the arm of God, or from the power of prayer. Could their prince command such forces as the prophet could do by his prayers? It startled them very much. Some will not be brought to see their sins by any gentler methods than storms and thunders. They entreat Samuel to pray for them. Now they see their need of him whom shortly before they slighted. Thus many who will not have Christ to reign over them, would yet be glad to have him intercede for them, to turn away the wrath of God. Samuel aims to confirm the people in their religion. Whatever we make a god of, we shall find it deceive us. Creatures in their own places are good; but when put in God's place, they are vain things. We sin if we restrain prayer, and in particular if we cease praying for the church. They only asked him to pray for them; but he promises to do more, to teach them. He urges that they were bound in gratitude to serve God, considering what great things he had done for them; and that they were bound in interest to serve him, considering what he would do against them, if they should still do wickedly. Thus, as a faithful watchman, he gave them warning, and so delivered his own soul. If we consider what great things the Lord hath done for us, especially in the great work of redemption, we can neither want motive, encouragement, nor assistance in serving him.
Key Words
שְׁמוּאֵל: Shemuel, the name of three Israelites
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
הִנֵּה: lo!
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
קוֹל: a voice or sound
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
מֶלֶךְ: a king
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
1 Samuel 12Moses' similar protestation of integrity, claiming he had not taken an ass or hurt anyone.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament summary of Israel's deliverers, including Gideon (Jerubbaal), Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and Samuel.
Supported by JFB
The original context where the people demanded a king and Samuel hearkened to their voice.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The constitutional phrase 'walketh before you' used to describe leadership and public administration of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Lord clarifies that in demanding a king, they rejected Him from reigning over them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms that rain in wheat harvest is highly unusual and socially disruptive in Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul’s similar farewell protestation of financial integrity, coveting no man's silver or gold.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's judgment in giving Israel a king in His anger and taking him away.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man commanding the elements.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Historical precedent of God sending thunder and rain as a sign of judgment and power.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God reasoning with His people regarding His redemption via Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel confession of the people serving Baalim and forsaking the Lord during Judges.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The specific historical trigger (Nahash the Ammonite's threat) that prompted their demand for a king.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Previous historical instance of Samuel gathering Israel to pray for them in crisis.
Supported by Matthew Henry