23 Moreover as for me, H595 God forbid H2486 that I should sin H2398 against the LORD H3068 in ceasing H2308 to pray H6419 for you: H1157 but I will teach H3384 you the good H2896 and the right H3477 way: H1870
For G1063 God G2316 is G2076 my G3450 witness, G3144 whom G3739 I serve G3000 with G1722 my G3450 spirit G4151 in G1722 the gospel G2098 of his G846 Son, G5207 that G5613 without ceasing G89 I make G4160 mention G3417 of you G5216 always G3842 in G1909 my G3450 prayers; G4335
For G1223 this cause G5124 we G2249 also, G2532 since G575 the G3739 day G2250 we heard G191 it, do G3973 not G3756 cease G3973 to pray G4336 for G5228 you, G5216 and G2532 to desire G154 that G2443 ye might be filled G4137 with the knowledge G1922 of his G846 will G2307 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom G4678 and G2532 spiritual G4152 understanding; G4907
Then hear H8085 thou in heaven, H8064 and forgive H5545 the sin H2403 of thy servants, H5650 and of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 that thou teach H3384 them the good H2896 way H1870 wherein they should walk, H3212 and give H5414 rain H4306 upon thy land, H776 which thou hast given H5414 to thy people H5971 for an inheritance. H5159
I thank G2192 G5485 God, G2316 whom G3739 I serve G3000 from G575 my forefathers G4269 with G1722 pure G2513 conscience, G4893 that G5613 without ceasing G88 I have G2192 remembrance G3417 of G4012 thee G4675 in G1722 my G3450 prayers G1162 night G3571 and G2532 day; G2250
Whom G3739 we G2249 preach, G2605 warning G3560 every G3956 man, G444 and G2532 teaching G1321 every G3956 man G444 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom; G4678 that G2443 we may present G3936 every G3956 man G444 perfect G5046 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus: G2424
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Stand H5975 ye in the ways, H1870 and see, H7200 and ask H7592 for the old H5769 paths, H5410 where is the good H2896 way, H1870 and walk H3212 therein, and ye shall find H4672 rest H4771 for your souls. H5315 But they said, H559 We will not walk H3212 therein.
Then hear H8085 thou from heaven, H8064 and forgive H5545 the sin H2403 of thy servants, H5650 and of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 when thou hast taught H3384 them the good H2896 way, H1870 wherein they should walk; H3212 and send H5414 rain H4306 upon thy land, H776 which thou hast given H5414 unto thy people H5971 for an inheritance. H5159
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.