1 Samuel 12:1-25. Samuel's farewell address to the people The assembly at Gilgal marks an important epoch in Jewish history. It ratified the work of the assembly at Mizpah, finally closed the period of the Judges, and formally inaugurated the New Monarchy. Samuel, though he was still to retain his... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have hearkened unto your voice_ Cp. 1 Samuel 8:7; 1Sa 8:9; 1 Samuel 8:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the king walketh before you_ Goes in and out in your presence in the exercise of his regal authority. _and I am old and gray-headed; and, behold my sons are with you_ Samuel refers to the two reasons alleged by the elders in ch. 1 Samuel 8:5 for asking a king, (_a_) his own age, (_b_) the misgover... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, here I am_ Samuel puts himself on his trial. The people are to be the accusers: Jehovah, and His representative Saul are the judges. _before his anointed_ The title "the anointed of Jehovah" (see 1 Samuel 10:1, note) is here for the first time actually applied to the King, though it had be... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is the Lord_ Or, YEA JEHOVAH [IS WITNESS]. This verse forms the transition to what follows. Samuel proceeds to identify Jehovah, to whom they were now appealing as witness, with the God who brought their fathers out of the bondage of Egypt. _advanced_ APPOINTED. Lit. _made_, cp. Hebrews 3:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_stand still, that I may reason with you_ PRESENT YOURSELVES THAT I MAY PLEAD WITH YOU. The figure of a trial (1 Samuel 12:3 note) is still kept up; but the relation of the parties is changed. Samuel is now the accuser, Israel the defendant. Cp. Ezekiel 20:35-36; Micah 6:1-5. _the righteous acts of... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jacob_, &c. The additions of the Sept. seem necessary to complete the sense. It reads, "When Jacob and his sons were come into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, your fathers cried," &c. Cp. Exodus 2:23-25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he sold them_ God's abandonment of His people to their enemies is described under the figure of _sale_, just as the deliverance of them is called _redemption_or buying back. Cp. Judges 2:14; Judges 3:8; Psalms 44:12. The three chief oppressors of Israel during the period of the Judges are mentione... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they cried unto the Lord_ The resemblance of the language to Judges 10:10 is so close as to lead us to suppose that the compiler of Samuel had the book of Judges before him, or at any rate that the words are derived from a common source. Cp. also Judges 2:18; Judges 3:15; Judges 4:3; Judges 6:7... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord sent_, &c. Four typical deliverers of the nation are mentioned. (1) Jerubbaal, who brought the Midianite oppression to an end (Judges 6-8). His original name _Gideon_was changed to _Jerubbaal_(_let Baal plead_) for his bold act of piety in destroying the altar of Baal (Judges 6:31-32).... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when ye saw_ As the demand for a king preceded the invasion of Nahash recorded in ch. 11, the reference must be to earlier inroads, or to a threatened attack. This reason for desiring a king is hinted at in 1 Samuel 8:20. _Nay_ Refusing to listen to my expostulations (1 Samuel 8:6; 1 Samuel 8:... [ Continue Reading ]
_whom ye have desired_ ASKED, as in 1 Samuel 12:17_; 1 Samuel 12:19_. The word however is omitted by the Sept., and may possibly be an addition to the original text.... [ Continue Reading ]
_If ye will fear_, &c. Better, " IF YE WILL FEAR JEHOVAH, AND SERVE HIM, AND OBEY HIS VOICE, AND NOT REBEL AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT OF JEHOVAH, AND BOTH YE AND ALSO THE KING WHO REIGNETH OVER YOU CONTINUE FOLLOWING AFTER JEHOVAH YOUR GOD, [it shall be well with you]: BUT IF, &c." The apodosis must be... [ Continue Reading ]
_as it was against your fathers_ As set forth in 1 Samuel 12:9. The Sept. however reads, "and against your king," which offers a more complete parallel to 1 Samuel 12:14. Cp. 1 Samuel 12:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he shall send thunder and rain_ "In ordinary seasons from the cessation of the showers in spring [about the end of April] until their commencement in October or November, rain never falls, and the sky is usually serene." Robinson, _Bibl. Res_. I. 430. Wheat harvest was in May and June. See note on... [ Continue Reading ]
_feared the Lord and Samuel_ The unexpected rain was a "sign," attesting the prophet's words. Cp. Exodus 14:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pray for thy servants_ See note on 1 Samuel 7:5. _this evil_ WICKEDNESS: the same word as in 1 Samuel 12:17_; 1 Samuel 12:20_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_for_then should ye GO _after vain things_ The word "for" necessitates the insertion of a verb to complete the sentence. But it is expressed in none of the ancient versions, and the sense gains by its omission. Translate: "AND YE SHALL NOT TURN ASIDE AFTER VAIN THINGS WHICH CANNOT PROFIT NOR DELIVER... [ Continue Reading ]
_for his great name's sake_ Lest He should seem in the eyes of the heathen not to be such as He declares Himself to be, Almighty, True, Faithful. Compare the use of this plea by Moses (Exodus 32:12; Numbers 14:13 ff.), and Joshua (Joshua 7:9). See also Romans 11:1-2. _it hath pleased the Lord to ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_how great things he hath done for you_ Lit. WITH YOU. The reference can scarcely be limited to the recent storm as a display of God's greatness, but includes all his gracious dealings with His people. Samuel concludes his speech as he began it (1 Samuel 12:6), with an appeal to these as the motive... [ Continue Reading ]