1 Samuel 12:1-9

Samuel’s Farewell Speech

1 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you.

2 Now 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.

3 Here 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.”

5 Samuel 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.

6 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of Egypt.

7 Now 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.

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1 Samuel 12:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 12

In this chapter Samuel, resigning the government to Saul, asserts the integrity with which he had performed his office, and calls upon the people of Israel to attest it, who did, 1Sa 12:1-5, he then reminds them of the great and good things the Lord had done for them in times past, 1Sa 12:6-11 and whereas they had desired a king, and one was given them, it was their interest to fear and serve the Lord; if not, his hand would be against them, 1Sa 12:10-15 he terrifies them by calling for thunder in an unusual time, 1Sa 12:16-19 and then comforts and encourages them, that in doing their duty God would be with them, and not forsake them, otherwise they might expect nothing but ruin and destruction, 1Sa 12:20-25.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 25

1. S 1 Samuel 8:7
2. 1 Samuel 10:24; 1 Samuel 11:15
3. S 1 Samuel 8:5
4. 1 Samuel 8:3
5. S 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9,11; 2 Samuel 1:14; 2 Samuel 19:21; Psalms 105:15
6. Numbers 16:15
7. S Exodus 18:21; S 1 Samuel 8:3; Deuteronomy 16:19
8. Exodus 20:17; Acts 20:33
9. S Leviticus 25:14
10. S Genesis 31:50
11. Acts 23:9; Acts 24:20
12. Exodus 22:4
13. S Exodus 3:10; Exodus 6:26; Micah 6:4
14. S Joshua 24:1
15. Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 3:14; Jeremiah 2:9; Jeremiah 25:31; Ezekiel 17:20; Ezekiel 20:35; Micah 6:1-5
16. S Judges 5:11
17. S Genesis 46:6
18. S Exodus 2:23
19. S Exodus 3:10; Exodus 4:16
20. S Deuteronomy 32:18; S Judges 3:7
21. S Deuteronomy 32:30
22. Judges 4:2
23. S Joshua 11:1
24. Judges 10:7; Judges 13:1
25. Judges 3:12