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1 Samuel 12:1

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me and I have appointed a king over you.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— 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.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— 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.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— 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.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— And Samuel said to all Israel, behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that ye said to me, and have made a king over you.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— And Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that ye said to me, and have made a king over you.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— And Samuel said unto all Israel, Lo! I have hearkened unto your voice, in all that ye said to me,—and have set over you a king.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— And Samuel saith unto all Israel, 'Lo, I have hearkened to your voice, to all that ye said to me, and I cause to reign over you a king,
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— And Samuel said to all Israel: Behold I have hearkened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Samuel then said vnto all Israel, Behold, I haue hearkened vnto your voyce in all that yee sayde vnto mee, and haue appoynted a King ouer you.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— And Samuel saide vnto all Israel, Beholde, I haue hearkned vnto your voice in all that ye said vnto mee, and haue made a King ouer you.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— AND Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— And Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all things that ye have said to me, and I have set a king over you.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— And Shemuel said unto all Yisrael, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
And Šæmû´ël שְׁמוּאֵל 8050
{8050} Prime
שְׁמוּאֵל
Sh@muw'el
{sehm-oo-ale'}
From the passive participle of H8085 and H0410; heard of God; Shemuel, the name of three Israelites.
said 559
{0559} Prime
אָמַר
'amar
{aw-mar'}
A primitive root; to say (used with great latitude).
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
unto x413
(0413) Complement
אֵל
'el
{ale}
(Used only in the shortened constructive form (the second form)); a primitive particle, properly denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, that is, near, with or among; often in general, to.
all x3605
(3605) Complement
כֹּל
kol
{kole}
From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).
Yiŝrä´ël יִשׂרָאֵל, 3478
{3478} Prime
יִשְׂרָאֵל
Yisra'el
{yis-raw-ale'}
From H8280 and H0410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity.
Behold, x2009
(2009) Complement
הִנֵּה
hinneh
{hin-nay'}
Prolonged for H2005; lo!.
I have hearkened 8085
{8085} Prime
שָׁמַע
shama`
{shaw-mah'}
A primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.).
z8804
<8804> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 12562
unto your voice 6963
{6963} Prime
קוֹל
qowl
{kole}
From an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound.
in all x3605
(3605) Complement
כֹּל
kol
{kole}
From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).
that x834
(0834) Complement
אֲשֶׁר
'asher
{ash-er'}
A primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as adverb and conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
ye said 559
{0559} Prime
אָמַר
'amar
{aw-mar'}
A primitive root; to say (used with great latitude).
z8804
<8804> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 12562
unto me, and have made y4427
[4427] Standard
מָלַךְ
malak
{maw-lak'}
A primitive root; to reign; inceptively to ascend the throne; causatively to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel.
z8686
<8686> Grammar
Stem - Hiphil (See H8818)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 4046
a king 4428
{4428} Prime
מֶּלֶךְ
melek
{meh'-lek}
From H4427; a king.
x4427
(4427) Complement
מָלַךְ
malak
{maw-lak'}
A primitive root; to reign; inceptively to ascend the throne; causatively to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel.
over x5921
(5921) Complement
עַל
`al
{al}
Properly the same as H5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural, often with prefix, or as conjugation with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.
you.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

1 Samuel 12:1-4

_ _ 1 Samuel 12:1-5. Samuel testifies his integrity.

_ _ Samuel said unto all Israel — This public address was made after the solemn re-installment of Saul, and before the convention at Gilgal separated. Samuel, having challenged a review of his public life, received a unanimous testimony to the unsullied honor of his personal character, as well as the justice and integrity of his public administration.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1 Samuel 12:1-5

_ _ Here, I. Samuel gives them a short account of the late revolution, and of the present posture of their government, by way of preface to what he had further to say to them, 1 Samuel 12:1, 1 Samuel 12:2. 1. For his own part, he had spent his days in their service; he began betimes to be useful among them, and had continued long so: “I have walked before you, as a guide to direct you, as a shepherd that leads his flock (Psalms 80:1), from my childhood unto this day.” As soon as he was illuminated with the light of prophecy, in his early days, he began to be a burning and shining light to Israel; “and now my best days are done: I am old and gray-headed;” therefore they were the more unkind to cast him off, yet therefore he was the more willing to resign, finding the weight of government heavy upon his stooping shoulders. He was old, and therefore the more able to advise them, and the more observant they should have been of what he said, for days shall speak and the multitude of years shall teach wisdom; and there is a particular reverence due to the aged, especially aged magistrates and aged ministers. “I am old, and therefore not likely to live long, perhaps may never have an opportunity of speaking to you again, and therefore take notice of what I say.” 2. As for his sons, “Behold” (says he), “they are with you, you may, if you please, call them to an account for any thing they have done amiss. They are present with you, and have not, upon this revolution, fled from their country. They are upon the level with you, subjects to the new king as well as you; if you can prove them guilty of any wrong, you may prosecute them now by a due course of law, punish them, and oblige them to make restitution.” 3. As for their new king, Samuel had gratified them in setting him over them (1 Samuel 12:1): “I have hearkened to your voice in all that you said to me, being desirous to please you, if possible, and make you easy, though to the discarding of myself and family; and now will you hearken to me, and take my advice?” The change was now perfected: “Behold, the king walketh before you” (1 Samuel 12:2); he appears in public, ready to serve you in public business. Now that you have made yourselves like the nations in your civil government, and have cast off the divine administration in that, take heed lest you make yourselves like the nations in religion and cast off the worship of God.

_ _ II. He solemnly appeals to them concerning his own integrity in the administration of the government (1 Samuel 12:3): Witness against me, whose ox have I taken? Observe,

_ _ 1. His design in this appeal. By this he intended, (1.) To convince them of the injury they had done him in setting him aside, when they had nothing amiss to charge him with (his government had no fault but that it was too cheap, too easy, too gentle), and also of the injury they had done themselves in turning off one that did not so much as take an ox or an ass from them, to put themselves under the power of one that would take from them their fields and vineyards, nay, and their very sons and daughters (1 Samuel 8:11), so unlike would the manner of the king be from Samuel's manner. (2.) To preserve his own reputation. Those that heard of Samuel's being rejected as he was would be ready to suspect that certainly he had done some evil thing, or he would never have been so ill treated; so that it was necessary for him to make this challenge, that it might appear upon record that it was not for any iniquity in his hands that he was laid aside, but to gratify the humour of a giddy people, who owned they could not have a better man to rule them, only they desired a bigger man. There is a just debt which every man owes to his own good name, especially men in public stations, which is to guard it against unjust aspersions and suspicions, that we may finish our course with honour as well as joy. (3.) As he designed hereby to leave a good name behind him, so he designed to leave his successor a good example before him; let him write after his copy, and he will write fair. (4.) He designed, in the close of his discourse, to reprove the people, and therefore he begins with a vindication of himself; for he that will, with confidence, tell another of his sin, must see to it that he himself be clear.

_ _ 2. In the appeal itself observe,

_ _ (1.) What it is that Samuel here acquits himself from. [1.] He had never, under any pretence whatsoever, taken that which was not his own, ox or ass, had never distrained their cattle for tribute, fines, or forfeitures, nor used their service without paying for it. [2.] He had never defrauded those with whom he dealt, nor oppressed those that were under his power. [3.] He had never taken bribes to pervert justice, nor was ever biassed by favour for affection to give judgment in a cause against his conscience.

_ _ (2.) How he calls upon those that had slighted him to bear witness concerning his conduct: “Here I am; witness against me. If you have any thing to lay to my charge, do it before the Lord and the king, the proper judges.” He puts honour upon Saul, by owning himself accountable to him if guilty of any wrong.

_ _ III. Upon this appeal he is honourably acquitted. He did not expect that they would do him honour at parting, though he well deserved it, and therefore mentioned not any of the good services he had done them, for which they ought to have applauded him, and returned him the thanks of the house; all he desired was that they should do him justice, and that they did (1 Samuel 12:4) readily owning, 1. That he had not made his government oppressive to them, nor used his power to their wrong. 2. That he had not made it expensive to them: Neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand for the support of thy dignity. Like Nehemiah, he did not require the bread of the governor (Nehemiah 5:18), had not only been righteous, but generous, had coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel, Acts 20:33.

_ _ IV. This honourable testimony borne to Samuel's integrity is left upon record to his honour (1 Samuel 12:5): “The Lord is witness, who searcheth the heart, and his anointed is witness, who trieth overt acts;” and the people agree to it: “He is witness.” Note, The testimony of our neighbours, and especially the testimony of our own consciences for us, that we have in our places lived honestly, will be our comfort under the slights and contempts that are put upon us. Demetrius is a happy man, that has a good report of all men and of the truth itself, 3 John 1:12.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

1 Samuel 12:1

Said — While they were assembled together in Gilgal. And this is another instance of Samuel's great wisdom and integrity. He would not reprove the people for their sin, in desiring a king, whilst Saul was unsettled in his kingdom; lest through their accustomed levity, they should as hastily cast off their king, as they had passionately desired him, and therefore he chuseth this season for it; because Saul's kingdom was now confirmed by an eminent victory; and because the people rejoiced greatly, applauded themselves for their desires of a king; and interpreted the success which God had given them, as a divine approbation of those desires. Samuel therefore thinks fit to temper their joys, and to excite them to that repentance which he saw wanting in them, and which he knew to be necessary, to prevent the curse of God upon their new king, and the whole kingdom.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

1 Samuel 12:1

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have (a) hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

(a) I have granted your petition.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
Behold:

1 Samuel 8:5-8 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. ... According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
1 Samuel 8:19-22 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; ... And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

have made:

1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance?
1 Samuel 10:24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
1 Samuel 11:14-15 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. ... And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

1S 8:5, 19; 10:1, 24; 11:14.

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