1 Samuel 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._ Samuel said unto all Israel. The venerable judge, in resigning his magisterial authority, challenged the most minute inquiry into every act of his administration. He called upon any one who had ever brought a cause for decision before him, to state whether he felt that injustice had been done him, or any abuse had been committed of the public interests confided to his care. Standing in an open assembly, he took God to witness that his hands were pure, and that uprightness and integrity had graded the whole course of his official life. History does scarcely anywhere present a more striking example of the moral sublime. Grotius compares Samuel to Aristides....

1-5 Samuel not only cleared his own character, but set an example before Saul, while he showed the people their ingratitude to God and to himself. There is a just debt which all men to their own good name, especially men in public stations, which is, to guard it against unjust blame and suspicions, that they may finish their course with honour, as well as with joy. And that we have in our places lived honestly, will be our comfort, under any slights and contempt that may be put upon us....

CHAPTER XII _Samuel, grown old, testifies his integrity before the people,_ _which they confirm_, 1-5. _He reproves them for their ingratitude and disobedience; and_ _gives a summary of the history of their fathers_, 6-12. _He exhorts them to future obedience, and calls for a sign from_ _heaven to confirm his authority, and to show them their_ _disobedience: God sends an extraordinary thunder and rain_, 13-19. _He warns them against idolatry, and exhorts to obedience, and_ _promises to intercede for them_, 20-23....

EXPOSITION SAMUEL'S EXHORTATION TO THE PEOPLE AT GILGAL. This speech of Samuel is not to be regarded as a farewell address made upon his resignation of his office; for though a new power had been introduced, and Samuel's sons excluded from the succession, yet it was only gradually that a change was made in his own position. He was still judge (1 Samuel 7:15), and on extraordinary occasions came forward with decisive authority (1 Samuel 15:33). But as Saul gathered men of war round him (1 Samuel 14:52), the moral power possessed by Samuel would be overshadowed by the physical force whi

AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO ALL ISRAEL,.... When assembled at Gilgal, after they had recognized Saul as their king, and he was established in the kingdom, and while in the midst of their mirth and joy: BEHOLD, I HAVE HEARKENED UNTO YOUR VOICE IN ALL THAT YE HAVE SAID UNTO ME; respecting the affair of a king, to which it must be limited, as appears by what follows; otherwise it is possible, in some things they might apply to him about, he did not think fit to hearken to them, and grant their request, or speak for them: AND HAVE MADE A KING OVER YOU; that is, had by the direction and appointment of God chosen one by lot, anointed and declared him king; for it was the Lord alone, that, properly speaking, made him a king....

5. SAMUEL'S WITNESS AND WARNING CHAPTER 12 _ 1. His witness to his own integrity (1 Samuel 12:1)_ 2. His warning (1 Samuel 12:6) 3. Heaven's answer (1 Samuel 12:16) 4. His words of comfort (1 Samuel 12:20) What a scene! The man of God, the man of prayer, now advanced in years, stands before them. “I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.” Here was not a Nazarite who had failed like Samson, but one who had lived out his Nazariteship in the fullest sense of the word. What unselfish service he had rendered and how he loved his own people! In all this he is a type o

1 SAMUEL 12. SAMUEL'S FAREWELL. From the Deuteronomic document, where it separated the two clauses of 1 Samuel 10:25, which see. 1 SAMUEL 12:1_ A_ (to witness). In response to a solemn adjuration from Samuel, the people agree that his administration has been pure. 1 SAMUEL 12:3. TO BLIND MINE EYES THEREWITH: LXX even a pair of shoes? Answer against me, and I will, etc. (_mg.)._ 1 SAMUEL 12:6_ A_ - 1 SAMUEL 12:11. Samuel briefly reviews the history of Israel, showing the gracious dealings of

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6....

_I have hearkened unto your voice_ Cp. 1 Samuel 8:7; 1Sa 8:9; 1 Samuel 8:22....

AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO ALL ISRAEL— Saul being now publicly recognised for the king of Israel, Samuel takes the occasion of this solemn meeting to appeal to the people in the presence of their king, in justification of himself and his conduct since he had been judge over them: his office ceasing of course, now that God had given them a king....