1 Samuel 12

Samuel's Final Public Speech

1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, "I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you.^[a]

2 But now, you can see that the king is leading you. As for me, I'm old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until today.

3 Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken?^[b] Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to overlook something?^[c][d][e]I will return it to you."

4 "You haven't wronged us, you haven't mistreated us, and you haven't taken anything from anyone's hand," they responded.

5 He said to them, "The Lord is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today that you haven't found anything in my hand." "[He is] a witness," they said.

6 Then Samuel said to the people, "The Lord, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.^[f]

7 Now present yourselves, so I may judge you before the Lord about all the righteous acts He has done for you and your ancestors.

8 "When Jacob went to Egypt,^[g] your ancestors cried out to the Lord,^[h] and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.^[i]

9 But they forgot the Lord their God, so He handed them over to Sisera^[j] commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab.^[k] [These enemies] fought against them.

10 Then they cried out to the Lord and said, 'We have sinned, for we abandoned the Lord and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the power of our enemies,^[l] and we will serve You.'

11 So the Lord sent Jerubbaal,^[m] Barak,^[n] Jephthah,^[o] and Samuel.^[p] He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely.

12 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites^[q] was coming against you, you said to me, 'No, we must have a king rule over us'^[r]-even though the Lord your God is your king.^[s]

13 "Now here is the king you've chosen, the one you requested. Look, this is the king the Lord has placed over you.

14 If you fear the Lord, worship and obey Him, and if you don't rebel against the Lord's command, then both you and the king who rules over you will follow the Lord your God.

15 However, if you disobey the Lord and rebel against His command, the Lord's hand will be against you and against your ancestors.^[t][u]

16 "Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.^[v]

17 Isn't the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord and He will send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you committed in the Lord's sight by requesting a king for yourselves."

18 Samuel called on the Lord, and on that day the Lord sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.^[w]

19 They pleaded with Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so we won't die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves."

20 Samuel replied, "Don't be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don't turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart.

21 Don't turn away to follow worthless^[x] things that can't profit or deliver you; they are worthless.^[y]

22 The Lord will not abandon His people,^[z] because of His great name and because He has determined to make you His own people.^[aa]

23 "As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.^[ab] I will teach you the good and right way.

24 Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you.^[ac]

25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away."^[ad]

1 Samuel 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Samuel testifies his integrity. (1-5) Samuel reproves the people. (6-15) Thunder sent in harvest time. (16-25)

Verses 1-5 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.

Verses 6-15 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.

Verses 16-25 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 8:5-22
• [b]. Ex 20:17; Nm 16:15
• [c]. LXX reads bribe or a pair of shoes? Testify against me.
• [d]. Lit bribe and will hide my eyes with it?
• [e]. Dt 16:19
• [f]. LXX; MT omits is a witness
• [g]. LXX reads When Jacob and his sons went to Egypt and Egypt humbled them
• [h]. Ex 2:23-25
• [i]. Ex 3:1-10
• [j]. Jdg 4:1-2
• [k]. Jdg 2:11-15
• [l]. Jdg 2:18
• [m]. Jdg 6:11-12,32
• [n]. LXX, Syr; MT reads Bedan; Jdg 4:6; Heb 11:32
• [o]. Jdg 11:1
• [p]. 1 Sm 7:10-14
• [q]. 1 Sm 11:1-2
• [r]. 1 Sm 8:19
• [s]. Jdg 8:23
• [t]. LXX reads your king
• [u]. Lv 26:14-33; Jos 24:14-27
• [v]. Ex 14:13
• [w]. Ex 9:23-25,31; 1 Kg 18:37-39; Pr 26:1
• [x]. LXX reads away after empty
• [y]. Isa 44:9-20; Jr 2:8,11; Hab 2:18
• [z]. Jos 7:9; Ezk 36:22-28
• [aa]. Dt 7:6-9; 1 Pt 2:9
• [ab]. 1 Sm 7:5-9; Nm 21:7; Rm 1:9-10
• [ac]. Dt 10:21; Ps 103:2-14
• [ad]. 2 Kg 17:6-7

Chapter Summary

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.