1 Samuel 12

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 12

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.

2And 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.

3Behold, 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 of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

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

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

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

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

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

9And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

11And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king.

13Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, [and] whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

14If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

15But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers.

16¶ Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

17[Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

18So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.

20And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

21And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain.

22For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

24Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you.

25But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Samuel addresses Israel, affirming his blameless leadership and reminding them of God's consistent deliverance throughout their history. He rebukes them for rejecting God by demanding a human king, confirming their sin with a miraculous display of thunder and rain during harvest. Samuel then encourages them to serve the LORD faithfully, warning of consequences for disobedience but promising his continued intercession.

Medium Summary

Samuel begins by validating his integrity as a leader, challenging the Israelites to accuse him of any corruption, which they deny. He then recounts the LORD's faithful acts of deliverance, from the Exodus under Moses and Aaron to various salvations through judges like Jerubbaal and Jephthah. Samuel emphasizes that despite God being their king, Israel demanded a human monarch, particularly when threatened by Nahash. To underscore the gravity of their sin in rejecting God, Samuel calls upon the LORD to send thunder and rain during the wheat harvest, which miraculously occurs. This sign instills great fear in the people, prompting them to confess their wickedness and request Samuel's prayers. Samuel reassures them not to fear, urging them to serve the LORD wholeheartedly and avoid idolatry, promising his continued intercession and instruction, while reiterating the consequences of persistent wickedness.

Long Summary

Samuel convenes all Israel, confirming that he has hearkened to their desire and appointed a king over them. He then presents himself for public scrutiny, challenging anyone to accuse him of taking bribes, defrauding, or oppressing, to which the people unanimously attest to his blameless conduct. Samuel proceeds to recount the LORD's historical faithfulness to Israel, beginning with their deliverance from Egypt through Moses and Aaron. He reminds them how God repeatedly rescued them from various oppressors, including Sisera, the Philistines, and the Moabites, through judges like Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel himself, whenever they cried out in repentance. Despite God's consistent role as their deliverer and king, Samuel highlights their sin in demanding a human king when threatened by Nahash, thereby rejecting the LORD. He then presents the king they desired, warning both the people and the monarch that their prosperity hinges on fearing, serving, and obeying the LORD, and not rebelling against His commandments. To vividly demonstrate the magnitude of their sin in asking for a king, Samuel calls upon the LORD to send thunder and rain during the unusual time of wheat harvest. The LORD responds with a powerful display of thunder and rain, causing the people to greatly fear both the LORD and Samuel. Overwhelmed by this divine sign, the people confess their wickedness in asking for a king and earnestly plead for Samuel's intercession. Samuel reassures them not to fear, acknowledging their sin but urging them not to turn aside from following the LORD, but to serve Him with all their heart. He warns against pursuing "vain things" that cannot profit or deliver. Samuel affirms that the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name's sake, as it pleased Him to make them His own. He vows to continue praying for them and teaching them the good and right way. Finally, Samuel issues a solemn warning that continued wickedness will result in the consumption of both the people and their king.

Core Concepts

  • Samuel's IntegritySamuel publicly vindicates his blameless conduct as a judge and leader, challenging Israel to find fault with his administration. The people confirm that he has not defrauded, oppressed, or taken bribes.
  • God's Historical DeliveranceSamuel recounts the LORD's consistent acts of salvation throughout Israel's history, from the Exodus to deliverance from various enemies through judges. This serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness despite Israel's repeated backsliding.
  • Rejection of God as KingThe chapter highlights Israel's sin in demanding a human king, particularly when threatened by Nahash, thereby rejecting the LORD who had always been their true monarch and deliverer. This act is presented as a significant transgression.
  • Divine Sign of Thunder and RainSamuel calls for an unusual display of thunder and rain during the wheat harvest as a miraculous sign to demonstrate the greatness of Israel's wickedness in asking for a king. This event instills fear and prompts confession among the people.
  • Call to Repentance and ObedienceFollowing the divine sign, Samuel urges the people not to fear but to turn from their wickedness and serve the LORD with all their heart. He warns against turning to "vain things" and emphasizes the importance of continued obedience.
  • Samuel's Continued IntercessionDespite Israel's sin, Samuel promises not to cease praying for them, stating it would be a sin against the LORD. He also pledges to continue teaching them the good and right way, demonstrating his ongoing pastoral commitment.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceSamuel clearly states that if Israel and their king obey the LORD, they will prosper, but if they rebel, God's hand will be against them. He concludes with a stark warning that continued wickedness will lead to their destruction.