1 Samuel 12 Study Notes

12:14-15 To fear the Lord includes an attitude of reverence and awe toward God. Worship literally means “serve” in this verse. Rather than you will follow, D. T. Tsumura translates, “you will be following.” The result that they will have the Lord’s favor is assumed rather than stated. The opposite is stated in v. 15: the Lord’s hand will be against you.

12:16 On present yourselves, see note at v. 7. The Lord was about to perform a heavenly sign to confirm that the people had sinned grievously by asking for a king.

12:17 The wheat harvest normally occurred around late May, and it was officially marked by the Festival of Weeks (Hb shavu‘oth; Nm 28:26-31). Thunder and rain normally do not come in Israel from about late April to sometime in October. Their coming would function as a sign of an immense evil the people had committed . . . by requesting a king.

12:18 The Israelites realized the miraculous nature of what was happening and greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. Such an amazing sign could only mean they had offended God.

12:19 The people pleaded with Samuel because he was clearly God’s representative. The words we have added to all our sins seem to indicate a certain depth of repentance, to which Samuel responded in the next verse.

12:20 Samuel agreed the people had committed . . . evil by asking for a king. The commands, don’t be afraid and don’t turn away, emphasize immediacy. The people were afraid and were considering turning away in light of God’s judgment. Rather than fear or flight, Samuel instructed, they should worship (or “serve”) the Lord wholeheartedly.

12:21 The command Don’t turn away is different in structure from the command in v. 20. Here it emphasizes a general prohibition—“Don’t ever turn away.” The Hebrew word translated worthless things and worthless is tohu (Gn 1:2, “formless”) and here probably designates the worthlessness of following false gods. False gods are likened to “emptiness” in Is 41:29, and “nothing” in Is 44:9.

12:22 God’s honor was at stake because he had entered into covenant with the Israelites and determined to make them his own people. He would keep his word so the whole world might know his faithful and gracious character.

12:23 The words I vow could also be translated “far be it from me.” Samuel’s assurance to the people was expressed in the strongest terms. Samuel had been the people’s shepherd leader, and ceasing to pray on their behalf was sin in his eyes.

This verbal root occurs in all Semitic languages, involving negative circumstances and behavior, particularly with people in religious settings. Chata’ together with the noun chatta’th (sin), means to sin (Gn 20:9). It suggests offend, harm, be guilty, or bear the guilt (Gn 40:1; 42:22; 43:9; 44:32). It connotes be wrong (Nm 14:40), be at fault (Ex 5:16), or forfeit (Hab 2:10). With chatta’t it represents commit sin (Ex 32:30). Participles mean sinful (Pr 11:31), sinning, or sinner. Intensive verbs contrarily signify offer as a sin offering or purify (Lv 6:26; 14:52). They connote bear the loss (Gn 31:39). Reflexive-passive verbs indicate purify (Nm 31:20), purify oneself (Nm 31:19), or withdraw (Jb 41:25). Causative forms denote bring guilt on (Dt 24:4), cause to sin (1Kg 15:34), draw into sin (Neh 13:26), or accuse (Is 29:21). The meaning miss (Jdg 20:16) may have developed from religious meanings existing centuries earlier.

12:24 Samuel’s concluding words summarized commands he already had given the people. Remembering God’s past faithfulness would guide the Israelites in living for him in the present and into the future.

12:25 Disastrous consequences awaited both ruler and people if they persisted in doing evil. God’s covenant with his people might continue, but a rebellious generation could not presume on his blessing.