1 Samuel 12:1

Samuel Addresses Israel

1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, ¹I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me and I ²have appointed a king over you.

1 Samuel 12:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 12:1

And Samuel said unto all Israel
When assembled at Gilgal, after they had recognized Saul as their king, and he was established in the kingdom, and while in the midst of their mirth and joy:

behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye have said unto
me;
respecting the affair of a king, to which it must be limited, as appears by what follows; otherwise it is possible, in some things they might apply to him about, he did not think fit to hearken to them, and grant their request, or speak for them:

and have made a king over you;
that is, had by the direction and appointment of God chosen one by lot, anointed and declared him king; for it was the Lord alone, that, properly speaking, made him a king.

1 Samuel 12:1 In-Context

1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me and I have appointed a king over you.

2 "Now, here is the king walking before you, but I am old and gray, and behold my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth even to this day.

3 "Here I am; bear witness against me before the LORD and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you."

4 They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand."

5 He said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

Cross References

• 1. 1 Sam 8:7, 9, 22
• 2. 1 Samuel 10:24; 1 Samuel 11:14, 15

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "made"