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. Ver. 1. _And Samuel said unto all Israel_] In this most excellent chapter the people giveth testimony to Samuel's innocency, heareth his wisdom, seeth his patience,... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _And now, behold, the king walketh before you._] _Graditur ante vos: gressu, sc., grallatorio,_ with a pace and state... [ Continue Reading ]
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 of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. Ver. 3. _Whose o... [ Continue Reading ]
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. Ver. 4. _Thou hast not defrauded us._] Happy is Samuel thus to be acquitted by himself in private, by others in public, in both by God. _Quoad vixit, virtutum laude crevit,_ saith Cornelius... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 5. _The Lord is witness against you._] Samuel being so innocent, was the fitter to reprove: otherwise they would have r... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron._] Heb., That made them; not only made them men, but great men. See the like, Deu 32:6 Isa 43:7 Eph 2:10... [ Continue Reading ]
Now 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. Ver. 7. _Now therefore stand still._] Bustle not, bristle not, but suffer the words of reproof and admonition. A proud person would have replied, Who... [ Continue Reading ]
When 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. Ver. 8. _Where Jacob was come into Egypt._] When that "Syrian ready to perish went down into Egypt, and sojourn... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 9. _And when they forgat the Lord._] As their wont was: and hence grew all the... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 10. _And they cried unto the Lord._] _Lachrymas angustiae exprimit Crux; lachrymas poenite... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 11. _And Bedan._] That is, Barak, according to the Septuagint. Others, Jair; but most likely Samson, as hath been noted. _See Trapp on "_ Jdg... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 12. _Nay; but a king shall reign over us._] This Nay is much and oft alleged against them; to show their wilfulness, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, [and] whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. Ver. 13. _Behold, the Lord hath set a king over you._] But "in his wrath." Hos 13:11 _See Trapp on "_ Hos 13:11 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
If 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: Ver. 14. _If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him._] Here is a precedent for preachers, w... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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. Ver. 15. _There shall the hand of the Lord be against you._] This is an excellent way of preaching, - to mingle promises an... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. Ver. 16. _Now therefore stand and see._] He had bidden them before Stand and hear, 1Sa 12:7 now, Stand and see: that both these two learned senses, as Aristotle calleth them, being affected together, they might b... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Samuel 12:17 [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. Ver. 17. _Is it not wheat harvest today?_] And so, no usua... [ Continue Reading ]
So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. Ver. 18. _And the Lord sent thunder and rain that day._] Out of the midst of water he fetched fire, astonishing the people with the fearful noise of that eruption; tha... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 19. Pray … that we die not.] As they now feared they should, so terrible was the tempest: but good Samuel prayed it down again l... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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; Ver. 20. _Fear not,_] _i.e., _ Despair not, cast not away your confidence: they that go down into this pit cannot hope for God's truth. Is... [ Continue Reading ]
And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain. Ver. 21. _And turn ye not aside._] To idols, or other of the devil's anodynes, as music, merry company, multiplicity of worldly business, or the like. This is but to imitate the... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. Ver. 22. _For the Lord will not forsake his people._] Whatever the devil and your own misgiving hearts may suggest to the contrary: as it is ordinary with men to measure God... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover 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: Ver. 23. In ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you.] I will faithfully perform the office of a prophet in preaching unto you, and praying for you. Se... [ Continue Reading ]
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you. Ver. 24. _Only fear the Lord._] Else my praying for you shall profit you nothing: my preaching also will be lost labour. _ And serve him in truth._] Without dissimulation _ With a... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king. Ver. 25. _But if ye shall still do wickedly._] Thus he mixeth promises and menaces, 1Sa 12:15 and artificially concludeth with that which would stick by them, and ring in their ears.... [ Continue Reading ]