1 Samuel 12:1-8

1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, "Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me and have made a king over you;

2 and now, behold, the king walketh before you. And I am old and grayheaded, and behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

3 Behold, here I am! Witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it to you."

4 And they said, "Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught from any man's hand."

5 And he said unto them, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand." And they answered, "He is witness."

6 And Samuel said unto the people, "It is the LORD who advanced Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and to your fathers.

8 When Jacob had come into Egypt and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.

1 Samuel 12:1-8 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.