1 Samuel12
New International Version
1Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you.
2Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day.
3Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”
4“You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
5Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is witness,” they said.
6Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of Egypt.
7Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors.
8“After Jacob entered Egypt, they cried to the Lord for help, and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
9“But they forgot the Lord their God; so he sold them into the hand of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.
10They cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
11Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety.
12“But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king.
13Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you.
14If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good!
15But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.
16“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!
17Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”
18Then Samuel called on the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel.
19The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”
20“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
21Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.
22For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.
23As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
24But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
25Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”
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