1 Samuel 12 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~1050 BC, at the assembly confirming Saul as king
Location
Gilgal, a shrine and assembly site in the Jordan valley near Jericho, where Israel had first camped after crossing into the land
Audience
Israelites of the early monarchy, hearing the terms on which kingship was granted to them
Situation
Samuel steps back from leadership with a public defence of his own record, challenging anyone to accuse him of taking a bribe or defrauding a neighbour. He then reviews Israel's history, calls their demand for a king a rejection of God, and calls down thunder and rain to make the point.
Key Background
A retiring official clearing his accounts before witnesses was a formal legal procedure, protecting his household from later claims, which is why Samuel asks for a verdict and the people give one. The speech follows the shape of a treaty renewal used across the ancient Near East: a review of past acts, the charges, the terms, and the consequences of breaking them. Rain during the wheat harvest in late May was practically unknown in that climate and would damage the cut grain lying in the fields, so an unseasonal storm on command was both a wonder and a costly one.
Samuel said to all of Israel, "Look — I've done everything you asked. I gave you a to lead you.
Now you have a king of you. As for me, I'm old and gray, and my sons are right here among you. I've been your leader since I was young — right up to today.
Here I am. Bring any accusation against me right now, in front of and in front of the as Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Who have I cheated? Who have I exploited? From whose hand have I taken a to look the other way? Tell me, and I'll make it right."
They answered, "You've never cheated us. You've never exploited us. You've never taken anything from anyone's hand."
He said to them, "Yahweh is against you today, and his chosen king is that you haven't found anything wrong with me." They replied, "He is
Then Samuel said to the people, "Yahweh is the one who Moses and Aaron, and who brought your ancestors up from the land of
Now take your stand here. I'm going to lay out my case against you before Yahweh — all the just Yahweh has done for you and your ancestors.
When Jacob went to Egypt and your ancestors out to Yahweh, Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, and they brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this land.
But they Yahweh their God. So he them to Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab, who all fought against them.
Then they cried out to Yahweh and said, 'We've — we abandoned Yahweh and served the and the But now us from our enemies, and we'll serve you.'
So Yahweh sent Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and he rescued you from the enemies all around you, and you in
But when you saw that of the Ammonites, was coming against you, you said to me, 'No — we want a to rule over us!' — even though was
So now — here's the king you chose, the one you asked for. Look: Yahweh has placed a king over you.
If you Yahweh and serve him and listen to his voice and don't against what Yahweh commands, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow Yahweh your God — good.
But if you don't listen to voice and you rebel what he commands, then will be you, just as it was your ancestors.
Now stand here and watch this Yahweh is about to do right in front of your eyes.
Isn't it right now? I'm going to call on Yahweh, and he'll send thunder and rain. Then you'll understand and see how it was in Yahweh's eyes — what you did when you asked for a king."
Samuel called on Yahweh, and that same day Yahweh sent thunder and rain. All the people were of Yahweh and of Samuel.
All the people said to Samuel, "Pray to Yahweh your God for us — your — so we don't die! Because on top of all our other we've added this wrong: asking for a king."
Samuel said to the people, "Don't be afraid. Yes, you've done all this wrong. But don't turn away from following Yahweh. Serve Yahweh with you have.
Don't turn away to chase after that can't help you or you — because they're nothing.
will not people, because of — because it to make you own people.
As for me — I would never by stopping my prayers for you. I'll keep teaching you the and
Just Yahweh and serve him with everything you have. Think about the he's done for you.
But if you keep both you and your king will be