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Texts -- 1 Samuel 12:1-22 (NET)

Context
12:1 Samuel said to all Israel , “I have done everything you requested . I have given you a king . 12:2 Now look ! This king walks before you. As for me, I am old and gray , though my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from the time of my youth till the present day . 12:3 Here I am. Bring a charge against me before the Lord and before his chosen king . Whose ox have I taken ? Whose donkey have I taken ? Whom have I wronged ? Whom have I oppressed ? From whose hand have I taken a bribe so that I would overlook something? Tell me, and I will return it to you!” 12:4 They replied , “You have not wronged us or oppressed us. You have not taken anything from the hand of anyone .” 12:5 He said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his chosen king is witness this day , that you have not found any reason to accuse me.” They said , “He is witness !” 12:6 Samuel said to the people , “The Lord is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt . 12:7 Now take your positions , so I may confront you before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors . 12:8 When Jacob entered Egypt , your ancestors cried out to the Lord . The Lord sent Moses and Aaron , and they led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place . 12:9 “But they forgot the Lord their God , so he gave them into the hand of Sisera , the general in command of Hazor’s army , and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab , and they fought against them. 12:10 Then they cried out to the Lord and admitted , ‘We have sinned , for we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth . Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.’ 12:11 So the Lord sent Jerub-Baal , Barak , Jephthah , and Samuel , and he delivered you from the hand of the enemies all around you, and you were able to live securely . 12:12 “When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, ‘No ! A king will rule over us’– even though the Lord your God is your king ! 12:13 Now look ! Here is the king you have chosen – the one that you asked for! Look , the Lord has given you a king ! 12:14 If you fear the Lord , serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says , and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the Lord your God , all will be well. 12:15 But if you don’t obey the Lord and rebel against what the Lord says , the hand of the Lord will be against both you and your king . 12:16 “So now , take your positions and watch this great thing that the Lord is about to do in your sight . 12:17 Is this not the time of the wheat harvest ? I will call on the Lord so that he makes it thunder and rain . Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves.” 12:18 So Samuel called to the Lord , and the Lord made it thunder and rain that day . All the people were very afraid of both the Lord and Samuel . 12:19 All the people said to Samuel , “Pray to the Lord your God on behalf of us– your servants – so we won’t die , for we have added to all our sins by asking for a king .” 12:20 Then Samuel said to the people , “Don’t be afraid . You have indeed sinned . However , don’t turn aside from the Lord . Serve the Lord with all your heart . 12:21 You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver , since they are empty . 12:22 The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation . The Lord was pleased to make you his own people .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Samuel

    [ebd] heard of God. The peculiar circumstances connected with his birth are recorded in 1 Sam. 1:20. Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, who came up to Shiloh to worship before the Lord, earnestly prayed to God that she might...
    [smith] was the son of Elkanah and Hannah, and was born at Ramathaim-zophim, among the hills of Ephraim. [RAMAH No. 2] (B.C. 1171.) Before his birth he was dedicated by his mother to the office of a Nazarite and when a young child, 1...
    [nave] SAMUEL Miraculous birth of, 1 Sam. 1:7-20. Consecrated to God before his birth, 1 Sam. 1:11, 22, 24-28. His mother's song of thanksgiving, 1 Sam. 2:1-10. Ministered in the house of God, 1 Sam. 2:11, 18, 19. Blessed of Go...

  • SAMUEL, BOOKS OF

    [isbe] SAMUEL, BOOKS OF - || I. PLACE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL IN THE HEBREW CANON II. CONTENTS OF THE BOOKS AND PERIOD OF TIME COVERED BY THE HISTORY III. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 1. Life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1 through 15) 2. Reign and D...

  • Thunder

    [ebd] often referred to in Scripture (Job 40:9; Ps. 77:18; 104:7). James and John were called by our Lord "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). In Job 39:19, instead of "thunder," as in the Authorized Version, the Revised Version transla...
    [isbe] THUNDER - thun'-der (ra`am (1 Sam 2:10; Job 26:14; 39:19; 40:9; Ps 77:18; 81:7; 104:7; Isa 29:6), qol, "a voice" (Ex 9:23; 1 Sam 7:10; 12:17; Job 28:26; 38:25)): Thunder is the noise resulting from the lightning discharge. I...
    [smith] is hardly ever heard in Palestine form the middle of April to the middle of September; hence it was selected by Samuel as a striking expression of the divine displeasure toward the Israelites. (1 Samuel 12:17) Rain in harv...
    [nave] THUNDER Sent as a plague upon the Egyptians, Ex. 9:23-34; the Philistines, in battle with the children of Israel, 1 Sam. 7:10. Sent as a judgment, Isa. 29:6. On Sinai, Ex. 19:16; Psa. 77:18; Heb. 12:18, 19. A token of div...

  • Repentance

    [nave] REPENTANCE Attributed to God, Gen. 6:6, 7; Ex. 32:14; Deut. 32:36; Judg. 2:18; 1 Sam. 15:11, 29, 35; 2 Sam. 24:16; 1 Chr. 21:15; Psa. 106:45; 110:4; 135:14; Jer. 15:6; 18:8, 10; 26:3; 42:10; Joel 2:13; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:9...

  • Rain

    [nave] RAIN Forty days of, at the time of the flood, Gen. 7:4, 10-12, 17-24. The plague of, upon Egypt, Ex. 9:22-26, 33, 34. Miraculously caused by Samuel, 1 Sam. 12:16-19; by Elijah, 1 Kin. 18:41-45. David delivered by, 2 Sam. ...

  • Messiah

    [smith] (anointed). This word (Mashiach) answers to the word Christ (Christos) in the New Testament, and is applicable in its first sense to any one anointed with the holy oil. The kings of Israel were called anointed , from the mode...
    [nave] MESSIAH 1 Sam. 2:10, 35; 12:3, 5; 16:6; 24:6, 6, 10; 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Sam. 1:14, 16, 21; 19:21; 22:51; 23:1; 1 Chr. 16:22; 2 Chr. 6:42; Psa. 2:2; 18:50; 20:6; 28:8; 84:9; 89:38, 51; 105:15; 132:10, 17; Isa. 45:1; Lam. 4:2...

  • Bedan

    [ebd] one of the judges of Israel (1 Sam. 12:11). It is uncertain who he was. Some suppose that Barak is meant, others Samson, but most probably this is a contracted form of Abdon (Judg. 12:13).
    [isbe] BEDAN - be'-dan (bedhan, "son of judgment" (?)): (1) One of the leaders in Israel who with Jerubbaal, Jephthah and Samuel is mentioned as a deliverer of the nation (1 Sam 12:11). The text is questioned because the Septuagint...
    [smith] (son of judgement). Mentioned in (1 Samuel 12:11) as a judge of Israel between Jerubbaal (Gideon) and Jephthah. The Chaldee Paraphrase reads Samson for Bedan; the LXX., Syriac and Arabic all have Barak. Ewald suggests tha...
    [nave] BEDAN 1. One of the deliverers of Israel, 1 Sam. 12:11, possibly identical with Abdon. 2. Son of Ulam, 1 Chr. 7:17.

  • Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena

    [nave] METEOROLOGY AND CELESTIAL PHENOMENA. Gen. 2:5, 6; Gen. 27:39; Job 9:7; Job 26:7, 8, 11; Job 27:20, 21; Job 28:24-27; Job 29:19; Job 36:27-33; Job 37:6-22; Job 38:9 [with vs. 8-11.] Job 38:22, 24-29, 31-35, 37; Psa. 18:8-15;...

  • MOSES

    [isbe] MOSES - mo'-zez, mo'-ziz (mosheh; Egyptian mes, "drawn out," "born"; Septuagint Mouse(s)). The great Hebrew national hero, leader, author, law-giver and prophet. I. LIFE 1. Son of Levi 2. Foundling Prince 3. Friend of the Pe...

  • GOD, 2

    [isbe] GOD, 2 - II. The Idea of God in the Old Testament. 1. Course of Its Development: Any attempt to write the whole history of the idea of God in the Old Testament would require a preliminary study of the literary and historical...

  • Prayer

    [nave] PRAYER. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Answer to, Promised; Answered, Instances of Answered; Confession in; Importunity in, Instances of Importunity in; Intercessor...

  • Miracles

    [nave] MIRACLES. Index of Sub-topics Catalog of, and Supernatural Events, Of Jesus, in Chronological Order, Of the Disciples of Jesus; Convincing Effect of; Design of; Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Miscellany of Minor Sub-...

  • Symbols and Similitudes

    [nave] SYMBOLS AND SIMILITUDES Trees of life and knowledge, Gen. 2:9, 17; 3:3, 24; Rev. 22:2. Rainbow, Gen. 9:12, 13. Circumcision, of the covenant of Abraham, Gen. 17:11; Rom. 4:11. Passover, of the sparing of the firstborn, an...

  • Ashtoreth

    [ebd] the moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature, their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal, the sun-god, their chief male deity (Judg. 10:6; 1 Sam. 7:4; 12:10...
    [isbe] ASHTORETH - ash'-to-reth, ash-to reth (`ashtoreth; plural `ashtaroth; Astarte): 1. Name and Origin 2. Attributes of the Goddess 3. Ashtoreth as a Moon-Goddess 4. The Local Ashtaroth 1. Name and Origin: The name of the suprem...
    [nave] ASHTORETH An idol of the Philistines, Zidonians, and Phoenicians. Probably identical with queen of heaven, Jer. 7:18. Worshiped by Israelites, Judg. 2:13; 10:6; 1 Sam. 7:3, 4; 12:10; 1 Kin. 11:5, 33; 2 Kin. 23:13. Temple o...

  • Hazor

    [ebd] enclosed; fortified. (1.) A stronghold of the Canaanites in the mountains north of Lake Merom (Josh. 11:1-5). Jabin the king with his allied tribes here encountered Joshua in a great battle. Joshua gained a signal victory, w...
    [smith] (castle). A fortified city, which on the occupation of the country was allotted to Naphtali. (Joshua 19:36) Its position was apparently between Ramah and Kedesh, ibid. (Joshua 12:19) on the high ground overlooking the Lake o...
    [nave] HAZOR 1. A fortified city of Naphtali, Josh. 11:1, 10, 11, 13; 12:19; 19:36; Judg. 4:2, 17; 1 Sam. 12:9; 2 Kin. 15:29; Neh. 11:33. 2. A city in the S. of Judah, Josh. 15:23; 1 Kin. 9:15. 3. A place N. of Jerusalem, Neh. 11...

  • ANOINTING

    [isbe] ANOINTING - a-noint'-ing: A distinction was made by the ancient Hebrews between anointing with oil in private use, as in making one's toilet (cukh), and anointing as a religious rite (mashach). 1. Ordinary Use: (1) As regard...

  • PALESTINE, 1

    [isbe] PALESTINE, 1 - pal'-es-tin (pelesheth; Phulistieim, Allophuloi; the King James Version Joel 3:4 (the Revised Version (British and American) "Philistia"), "Palestina"; the King James Version Ex 15:14; Isa 14:29,31; compare Ps...

  • SAUL

    [isbe] SAUL - sol (sha'ul; Saoul): (1) The first king of Israel. I. EARLY HISTORY 1. Name and Meaning 2. Genealogy 3. Home and Station 4. Sources for Life 5. Election as King 6. Reasons for It II. REIGN AND FALL 1. His First Action...
    [smith] (desired), more accurately Shaul. One of the early kings of Edom, and successor of Samlah. (Genesis 36:37,38; 1 Chronicles 1:48) (B.C. after 1450.) The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. ...

  • Fear of God

    [nave] FEAR OF GOD. Reverence Gen. 35:5; Ex. 18:21; Ex. 20:18-20; Lev. 22:32; Deut. 4:10; Deut. 5:29; Deut. 6:2; Deut. 10:12, 20, 21 Deut. 6:13; 13:4; 14:23. Deut. 28:49, 58; Josh. 4:24; Josh. 24:14; 1 Sam. 2:30; 1 Sam. 12:14, 24...

  • ABDON

    [ebd] servile. (1.) The son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, the tenth judge of Israel (Judg. 12:13-15). He is probably the Bedan of 1 Sam. 12:11. (2.) The first-born of Gibeon of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chr. 8:30; 9:36). (3.) The son o...
    [smith] (servile). A judge of Israel, (Judges 12:13,15) perhaps the same person as Bedan, in (1 Samuel 12:11) (B.C. 1233-1225). Son of Shashak. (1 Chronicles 8:23) First-born son of Jehiel, son of Gideon. (1 Chronicles 8:30...
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Arts

Sermon Illustrations

Promises From God; Promises Don't Break by Leaning on them; Twelve Promises

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Statements in the Book of Samuel imply that someone who had witnessed at least some of the events recorded wrote it. However the original writer must have written most of it after Samuel's death (i.e., -1 Sam. 25-2 Sam. 24) a...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • I. Eli and Samuel chs. 1-3A. The change from barrenness to fertility 1:1-2:101. Hannah's condition 1:1-82. Hannah's vow 1:9-183. Hannah's obedience 1:19-284. Hannah's song 2:1-10B. The contrast between Samuel and Eli's sons 2...
  • As a totally dedicated Nazarite who followed the stipulations of the Mosaic Covenant as best he could, Samuel became a source of deliverance for Israel. The writer recorded two deliverances in this chapter.This section sounds...
  • "Clearly these five chapters constitute a literary unit, for they are immediately preceded by the formula that marks the end of the story of a judge (7:13-17) and immediately followed by the formula that marks the beginning o...
  • The writer wrote chapters 12-15 very skillfully to parallel chapters 8-11. Each section begins with Samuel warning the people about the dangers of their requesting a king (chs. 8 and 12). Each one also follows with a descript...
  • Why did Samuel feel the need to justify his behavior publicly? Perhaps he knew that because the people had rebelled against God by demanding a king they would experience discipline from the Lord. When it came he did not want ...
  • The Hebrew grammatical construction translated "the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for"(v. 13) shows that the people had not just requested a king but demanded him out of strong self-will. The key to Israel's ...
  • The people's rebellion against God was not something they could undo. Consequences would follow. Nevertheless Samuel counselled them to follow and serve the Lord faithfully from then on. They should not fear that God would ab...
  • "In the short pericope 13:7b-15a obedience was the stone on which Saul stumbled; here it is the rock that crushes him."147Chapter 15 records one of the battles Saul had with the Amalekites, Israel's enemy to the south (cf. 14...
  • The object lesson that David presented to Saul had a double application. David proved that he was not trying to kill Saul because Saul was the Lord's anointed. Furthermore he showed that it was inappropriate for Saul to seek ...
  • Ackroyd, Peter R. The First Book of Samuel. Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible series. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1971._____. "The Verb Love--'Aheb in the David-Jonathan Narratives--A Footnote."Vetus ...
  • David also observed that the ark's presence in Obed-edom's house resulted in blessing for its host. This made him more eager than ever to install the ark in Jerusalem.Verse 13 probably means after the priests had taken six st...
  • In response to David's desire to honor God (ch. 6), God promised to honor David with a line of descendants that would continue to rule Israel (ch. 7). Thus God would not only establish David's reign as long as he lived but fo...
  • Chapters 9-20 contrast with chapters 2-8 in that this later section is negative whereas the earlier one was positive. It records failure; the former records success. Compare the similar narrative of Saul's triumphs (1 Sam. 7-...
  • The national defeat pictured in this lament was a serious one. It may have been the first Babylonian invasion of Judah in 597 B.C., which resulted in severe destruction and exile for some Judeans.14:17 Jeremiah was to tell th...
  • In the section that follows, the relationship between Israel and Yahweh becomes even clearer. The mention of Baals and Israel's feasts makes this obvious. Hosea's relationship with Gomer recedes into the background.2:8 Israel...
  • 13:9 By turning against the Lord who only desired to help them (cf. v. 4), the Israelites had done something that would result in their own destruction. How ironic it was that Israel's helper would become her destroyer!13:10 ...
  • 6:1-2 Micah called his audience to hear what Yahweh had told him to say. Yahweh had a case (lawsuit, Heb. rib) to bring against His people. The Lord was summoning Israel to defend herself in a courtroom setting. He addressed ...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Observe the picturesque and forcible expression, had uncovered the ear of Samuel.' It is more than picturesque. It gives in the strongest form the fact of a revelation, both as to its origin and its secrecy. It is vain to rep...
  • 1 Samuel 12:1-15The portion of Samuel's address included in this passage has three main sections: his noble and dignified assertion of his official purity, his summary of the past history, and his solemn declaration of the co...
  • Probably the war with the Ammonite king Nahash, which had postponed the formal inauguration of the king, had been carried on in the neighborhood of the Jordan valley; and thus Gilgal would be a convenient rendezvous. But it w...
  • Having cleared himself, Samuel recounts the outlines of the past, in order to emphasize the law that cleaving to God had ever brought deliverance; departure, disaster; and penitence, restoration. It is history with a purpose,...
  • The part of Samuel's address with which we are concerned here closes with the application of the history to the present time. The great point of the last three verses is that the new order of things has not changed the old la...
  • 1 Samuel 12:13-25Samuel's office as judge necessarily ended when Saul was made king, but his office of prophet continued. This chapter deals with both the cessation and the continuance, giving at first his dignified, and some...
  • He begins with encouragement blended with reiteration of the people's sin. It is not safe for a forgiven man to forget his sin quickly. The more sure he is that God has forgotten, the more careful he should be to remember it,...
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