1 Samuel 12:4

4 And they said, Thou hast not falsely challenged us, neither thou hast oppressed us, neither thou hast taken any thing of any man's hand.

1 Samuel 12:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 12:4

And they said
One in the name of the rest, or they all cried out as one man:

thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us;
had done them no wrong, neither privately nor publicly, by fraud or by force:

neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand;
as a gift, present, or bribe, to fit your his cause. Some would infer hence that be took nothing of them for his support and maintenance, and that he lived upon his own substance; but that is not likely or reasonable; it was but just that they should support him and his family suitably to his character as a judge, whose whole life was spent in their service.

1 Samuel 12:4 In-Context

2 and now the king goeth before you. And I have waxed eld and hoary; and my sons be with you; also I have lived before you from my young waxing age unto this day.

3 And lo! I am ready; speak ye to me before the Lord, and before the christ of him/before his anointed, or king; whether I have taken any man's ox, either his ass; if I have falsely challenged any man; if I have oppressed any man; if I have taken gift of any man's hand; I shall despise it today, and I shall restore (it) to you. (And lo! I am ready; speak ye to me before the Lord, and before his anointed king; have I taken any man's ox, or his donkey; have I falsely challenged any man; have I oppressed any man; have I taken a gift from any man's hand? yea, if I have, I shall despise it today, and I shall restore it to you.)

4 And they said, Thou hast not falsely challenged us, neither thou hast oppressed us, neither thou hast taken any thing of any man's hand.

5 And he said to them, The Lord is witness against you, and his christ, or king, is witness in this day (and his anointed king is a witness this day); for ye have not found anything in mine hand. And they said, He is witness.

6 And Samuel said to the people, The Lord, that made Moses and Aaron, and that led your fathers out of the land of Egypt, is present; (And Samuel said to the people, The Lord, who made Moses and Aaron, and who led your fathers out of the land of Egypt, is present here;)