1 Samuel 12:7-17

7 "So now, take your stand, 1that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did for you and your fathers.
8 "2When Jacob went into Egypt and 3your fathers cried out to the LORD, then 4the LORD sent Moses and Aaron 5who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
9 "But 6they forgot the LORD their God, so 7He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and 8into the hand of the Philistines and 9into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
10 "10They cried out to the LORD and said, 'We have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD and have served 11the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but 12now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.'
11 "Then the LORD sent 13Jerubbaal and 14Bedan and 15Jephthah and 16Samuel, and delivered you from the hands of your enemies all * around, so that you lived in security.

The King Confirmed

12 "When you saw 17that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you said to me, '18No, but a king shall reign over us,' 19although the LORD your God was your king.
13 "Now therefore, 20here is the king whom you have chosen, 21whom you have asked for, and behold, the LORD has set a king over you.
14 "22If 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 also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.
15 "23If you will not listen to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the command of the LORD, then 24the hand of the LORD will be against you, 25as it was against your fathers.
16 "Even now, 26take your stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17 "27Is it not the wheat harvest today? 28I will call to the LORD, that He may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that 29your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king."

Images for 1 Samuel 12:7-17

1 Samuel 12:7-17 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.

Cross References 29

  • 1. Ezekiel 20:35; Micah 6:1-5
  • 2. Genesis 46:5, 6
  • 3. Exodus 2:23-25
  • 4. Exodus 3:10; Exodus 4:14-16
  • 5. 1 Samuel 10:18
  • 6. Deuteronomy 32:18; Judges 3:7
  • 7. Judges 4:2
  • 8. Judges 3:31; Judges 10:7; Judges 13:1
  • 9. Judges 3:12-30
  • 10. Judges 10:10
  • 11. Judges 2:13; Judges 3:7
  • 12. Judges 10:15, 16
  • 13. Judges 6:31, 32; Judges 7:1
  • 14. Judges 4:6; Judges 11:1
  • 15. Judges 11:29
  • 16. 1 Samuel 3:20
  • 17. 1 Samuel 11:1, 2
  • 18. 1 Samuel 8:6, 19
  • 19. Judges 8:23; 1 Samuel 8:7
  • 20. 1 Samuel 10:24
  • 21. 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 12:17, 19; Hosea 13:11
  • 22. Joshua 24:14
  • 23. Leviticus 26:14, 15; Joshua 24:20; Isaiah 1:20
  • 24. 1 Samuel 5:9
  • 25. 1 Samuel 12:9
  • 26. Exodus 14:13, 31
  • 27. Proverbs 26:1
  • 28. 1 Samuel 7:9, 10; James 5:16f
  • 29. 1 Samuel 8:7

Footnotes 5

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.