11 And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 Jerubbaal, H3378 and Bedan, H917 and Jephthah, H3316 and Samuel, H8050 and delivered H5337 you out of the hand H3027 of your enemies H341 on every side, H5439 and ye dwelled H3427 safe. H983
Now Jephthah H3316 the Gileadite H1569 was a mighty man H1368 of valour, H2428 and he was the son H1121 of an harlot: H802 H2181 and Gilead H1568 begat H3205 Jephthah. H3316 And Gilead's H1568 wife H802 bare H3205 him sons; H1121 and his wife's H802 sons H1121 grew up, H1431 and they thrust out H1644 Jephthah, H3316 and said H559 unto him, Thou shalt not inherit H5157 in our father's H1 house; H1004 for thou art the son H1121 of a strange H312 woman. H802 Then Jephthah H3316 fled H1272 from H6440 his brethren, H251 and dwelt H3427 in the land H776 of Tob: H2897 and there were gathered H3950 vain H7386 men H582 to Jephthah, H3316 and went out H3318 with him. And it came to pass in process of time, H3117 that the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 made war H3898 against Israel. H3478 And it was so, that when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 made war H3898 against Israel, H3478 the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 went H3212 to fetch H3947 Jephthah H3316 out of the land H776 of Tob: H2897 And they said H559 unto Jephthah, H3316 Come, H3212 and be our captain, H7101 that we may fight H3898 with the children H1121 of Ammon. H5983 And Jephthah H3316 said H559 unto the elders H2205 of Gilead, H1568 Did not ye hate H8130 me, and expel H1644 me out of my father's H1 house? H1004 and why are ye come H935 unto me now when ye are in distress? H6887 And the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 said H559 unto Jephthah, H3316 Therefore we turn again H7725 to thee now, that thou mayest go H1980 with us, and fight H3898 against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and be our head H7218 over all the inhabitants H3427 of Gilead. H1568 And Jephthah H3316 said H559 unto the elders H2205 of Gilead, H1568 If ye bring me home again H7725 to fight H3898 against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and the LORD H3068 deliver H5414 them before H6440 me, shall I be your head? H7218 And the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 said H559 unto Jephthah, H3316 The LORD H3068 be witness H8085 between us, if we do H6213 not so according to thy words. H1697 Then Jephthah H3316 went H3212 with the elders H2205 of Gilead, H1568 and the people H5971 made H7760 him head H7218 and captain H7101 over them: and Jephthah H3316 uttered H1696 all his words H1697 before H6440 the LORD H3068 in Mizpeh. H4709 And Jephthah H3316 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 saying, H559 What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come H935 against me to fight H3898 in my land? H776 And the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 answered H559 unto the messengers H4397 of Jephthah, H3316 Because Israel H3478 took away H3947 my land, H776 when they came up H5927 out of Egypt, H4714 from Arnon H769 even unto Jabbok, H2999 and unto Jordan: H3383 now therefore restore those lands again H7725 peaceably. H7965 And Jephthah H3316 sent H7971 messengers H4397 again H3254 unto the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon: H5983 And said H559 unto him, Thus saith H559 Jephthah, H3316 Israel H3478 took not away H3947 the land H776 of Moab, H4124 nor the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon: H5983 But when Israel H3478 came up H5927 from Egypt, H4714 and walked H3212 through the wilderness H4057 unto the Red H5488 sea, H3220 and came H935 to Kadesh; H6946 Then Israel H3478 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto the king H4428 of Edom, H123 saying, H559 Let me, I pray thee, pass through H5674 thy land: H776 but the king H4428 of Edom H123 would not hearken H8085 thereto. And in like manner they sent H7971 unto the king H4428 of Moab: H4124 but he would H14 not consent: and Israel H3478 abode H3427 in Kadesh. H6946 Then they went along H3212 through the wilderness, H4057 and compassed H5437 the land H776 of Edom, H123 and the land H776 of Moab, H4124 and came H935 by the east side H4217 H8121 of the land H776 of Moab, H4124 and pitched H2583 on the other side H5676 of Arnon, H769 but came H935 not within the border H1366 of Moab: H4124 for Arnon H769 was the border H1366 of Moab. H4124 And Israel H3478 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 the king H4428 of Heshbon; H2809 and Israel H3478 said H559 unto him, Let us pass, H5674 we pray thee, through thy land H776 into H5704 my place. H4725 But Sihon H5511 trusted H539 not Israel H3478 to pass H5674 through his coast: H1366 but Sihon H5511 gathered H622 all his people H5971 together, H622 and pitched H2583 in Jahaz, H3096 and fought H3898 against Israel. H3478 And the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 delivered H5414 Sihon H5511 and all his people H5971 into the hand H3027 of Israel, H3478 and they smote H5221 them: so Israel H3478 possessed H3423 all the land H776 of the Amorites, H567 the inhabitants H3427 of that country. H776 And they possessed H3423 all the coasts H1366 of the Amorites, H567 from Arnon H769 even unto Jabbok, H2999 and from the wilderness H4057 even unto Jordan. H3383 So now the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 hath dispossessed H3423 the Amorites H567 from before H6440 his people H5971 Israel, H3478 and shouldest thou possess H3423 it? Wilt not thou possess H3423 that which Chemosh H3645 thy god H430 giveth thee to possess? H3423 So whomsoever the LORD H3068 our God H430 shall drive out H3423 from before H6440 us, them will we possess. H3423 And now art thou any thing better H2896 than Balak H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor, H6834 king H4428 of Moab? H4124 did he ever H7378 strive H7378 against Israel, H3478 or did he ever H3898 fight H3898 against them, While Israel H3478 dwelt H3427 in Heshbon H2809 and her towns, H1323 and in Aroer H6177 and her towns, H1323 and in all the cities H5892 that be along by the coasts H3027 of Arnon, H769 three H7969 hundred H3967 years? H8141 why therefore did ye not recover H5337 them within that time? H6256 Wherefore I have not sinned H2398 against thee, but thou doest H6213 H853 me wrong H7451 to war H3898 against me: the LORD H3068 the Judge H8199 be judge H8199 this day H3117 between the children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Ammon. H5983 Howbeit the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 hearkened H8085 not unto the words H1697 of Jephthah H3316 which he sent H7971 him. Then the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 came upon Jephthah, H3316 and he passed over H5674 Gilead, H1568 and Manasseh, H4519 and passed over H5674 Mizpeh H4708 of Gilead, H1568 and from Mizpeh H4708 of Gilead H1568 he passed over H5674 unto the children H1121 of Ammon. H5983 And Jephthah H3316 vowed H5087 a vow H5088 unto the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 If thou shalt without fail H5414 deliver H5414 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 into mine hands, H3027 Then it shall be, that whatsoever H3318 cometh forth H3318 of the doors H1817 of my house H1004 to meet H7125 me, when I return H7725 in peace H7965 from the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 shall surely be the LORD'S, H3068 and I will offer it up H5927 for a burnt offering. H5930 So Jephthah H3316 passed over H5674 unto the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 to fight H3898 against them; and the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 them into his hands. H3027 And he smote H5221 them from Aroer, H6177 even till thou come H935 to Minnith, H4511 even twenty H6242 cities, H5892 and unto the plain H58 of the vineyards, H3754 H64 with a very H3966 great H1419 slaughter. H4347 Thus the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 were subdued H3665 before H6440 the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 evil H7451 again H3254 in the sight H5869 of the LORD; H3068 and the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of the Philistines H6430 forty H705 years. H8141 And there was a certain H259 man H376 of Zorah, H6881 of the family H4940 of the Danites, H1839 whose name H8034 was Manoah; H4495 and his wife H802 was barren, H6135 and bare H3205 not. And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto the woman, H802 and said H559 unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, H6135 and bearest H3205 not: but thou shalt conceive, H2029 and bear H3205 a son. H1121 Now therefore beware, H8104 I pray thee, and drink H8354 not wine H3196 nor strong drink, H7941 and eat H398 not any unclean H2931 thing: For, lo, thou shalt conceive, H2030 and bear H3205 a son; H1121 and no razor H4177 shall come H5927 on his head: H7218 for the child H5288 shall be a Nazarite H5139 unto God H430 from the womb: H990 and he shall begin H2490 to deliver H3467 Israel H3478 out of the hand H3027 of the Philistines. H6430 Then the woman H802 came H935 and told H559 her husband, H376 saying, H559 A man H376 of God H430 came H935 unto me, and his countenance H4758 was like the countenance H4758 of an angel H4397 of God, H430 very H3966 terrible: H3372 but I asked H7592 him not whence he was, neither told H5046 he me his name: H8034 But he said H559 unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, H2030 and bear H3205 a son; H1121 and now drink H7941 no wine H3196 nor strong drink, H8354 neither eat H398 any unclean H2932 thing: for the child H5288 shall be a Nazarite H5139 to God H430 from the womb H990 to the day H3117 of his death. H4194 Then Manoah H4495 intreated H6279 the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 O H994 my Lord, H136 let H4994 the man H376 of God H430 which thou didst send H7971 come again H935 unto us, and teach H3384 us what we shall do H6213 unto the child H5288 that shall be born. H3205 And God H430 hearkened H8085 to the voice H6963 of Manoah; H4495 and the angel H4397 of God H430 came again H935 unto the woman H802 as she sat H3427 in the field: H7704 but Manoah H4495 her husband H376 was not with her. And the woman H802 made haste, H4116 and ran, H7323 and shewed H5046 her husband, H376 and said H559 unto him, Behold, the man H376 hath appeared H7200 unto me, that came H935 unto me the other day. H3117 And Manoah H4495 arose, H6965 and went H3212 after H310 his wife, H802 and came H935 to the man, H376 and said H559 unto him, Art thou the man H376 that spakest H1696 unto the woman? H802 And he said, H559 I am. And Manoah H4495 said, H559 Now let thy words H1697 come to pass. H935 How shall we order H4941 the child, H5288 and how shall we do H4639 unto him? And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Manoah, H4495 Of all that I said H559 unto the woman H802 let her beware. H8104 She may not eat H398 of any thing that cometh H3318 of the vine, H1612 neither let her drink H8354 wine H3196 or strong drink, H7941 nor eat H398 any unclean H2932 thing: all that I commanded H6680 her let her observe. H8104 And Manoah H4495 said H559 unto the angel H4397 of the LORD, H3068 I pray thee, let us detain H6113 thee, until we shall have made ready H6213 a kid H1423 H5795 for H6440 thee. And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Manoah, H4495 Though thou detain H6113 me, I will not eat H398 of thy bread: H3899 and if H518 thou wilt offer H6213 a burnt offering, H5930 thou must offer H5927 it unto the LORD. H3068 For Manoah H4495 knew H3045 not that he was an angel H4397 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 12
Commentary on 1 Samuel 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
1Sa 12:1-5. Samuel Testifies his Integrity.
1-4. Samuel said unto all Israel—This public address was made after the solemn re-instalment 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.
5. the Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness—that, by their own acknowledgment, he had given them no cause to weary of the divine government by judges, and that, therefore, the blame of desiring a change of government rested with themselves. This was only insinuated, and they did not fully perceive his drift.
1Sa 12:6-16. He Reproves the People for Ingratitude.
7-16. Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you—The burden of this faithful and uncompromising address was to show them, that though they had obtained the change of government they had so importunely desired, their conduct was highly displeasing to their heavenly King; nevertheless, if they remained faithful to Him and to the principles of the theocracy, they might be delivered from many of the evils to which the new state of things would expose them. And in confirmation of those statements, no less than in evidence of the divine displeasure, a remarkable phenomenon, on the invocation of the prophet, and of which he gave due premonition, took place.
11. Bedan—The Septuagint reads "Barak"; and for "Samuel" some versions read "Samson," which seems more natural than that the prophet should mention himself to the total omission of the greatest of the judges. (Compare Heb 11:32).
1Sa 12:17-25. He Terrifies Them with Thunder in Harvest-time.
17-25. Is it not wheat harvest to-day?—That season in Palestine occurs at the end of June or beginning of July, when it seldom or never rains, and the sky is serene and cloudless. There could not, therefore, have been a stronger or more appropriate proof of a divine mission than the phenomenon of rain and thunder happening, without any prognostics of its approach, upon the prediction of a person professing himself to be a prophet of the Lord, and giving it as an attestation of his words being true. The people regarded it as a miraculous display of divine power, and, panic-struck, implored the prophet to pray for them. Promising to do so, he dispelled their fears. The conduct of Samuel, in this whole affair of the king's appointment, shows him to have been a great and good man who sank all private and personal considerations in disinterested zeal for his country's good and whose last words in public were to warn the people, and their king, of the danger of apostasy and disobedience to God.