1 Samuel 12:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete 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 Sam. 12:1, 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 (Ps. 80:1), from my childhood unto this day.? As soon as he was illuminated with the light... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:1

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:2

And now, behold, the king walketh before you ,.... He invested with his office, and in the exercise of it, and goes in and out as the captain, commander, and leader of the people; it is expressive of his being in the full possession of regal power and authority, and therefore Samuel might speak the more freely, as he could not be thought to have any hope and expectation of being reinstated in his government, or to have parted with it with any regret; and he wisely took this opportunity of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:3

Behold, here I am ,.... No longer the supreme governor, but a subject, and accountable for any misdemeanour charged upon me, and to which I am ready to give answer, being now at your bar to be tried and judged before you: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed ; signifying, that if they had anything to lay to his charge, that they would produce it, and give proof and evidence of it in the presence of God, in whose name they met, and of Saul, anointed king, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:4

And they said ,.... One in the name of the rest, or they all cried out as one man: thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us ; had done them no wrong, neither privately nor publicly, by fraud or by force: neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand ; as a gift, present, or bribe, to fit your his cause. Some would infer hence that be took nothing of them for his support and maintenance, and that he lived upon his own substance; but that is not likely or reasonable; it was but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:5

And he said unto them, the Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day ,.... Should they hereafter reproach and vilify him, and charge him with any acts of corruption, injustice, and violence: that ye have not found ought in my hand ; that they had nothing to accuse him of and charge him with throughout his whole administration, but had asserted his innocence and integrity, had honourably acquitted him, and given him a fair character: and they answered, he is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 12:1

And Samuel said - It is very likely that it was at this public meeting Samuel delivered the following address; no other time seems to be given for it, and this is the most proper that could be chosen. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 12:2

My sons are with you - It is generally agreed that these words intimate that Samuel had deprived them of their public employ, and reduced them to a level with the common people. Have walked before you from my childhood - He had been a long, steady, and immaculate servant of the public. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 12:3

Witness against me - Did ever a minister of state, in any part of the world, resign his office with so much self-consciousness of integrity, backed with the universal approbation of the public? No man was oppressed under his government, no man defrauded! He had accumulated no riches for himself; he had procured none for his friends; nor had one needy dependant been provided for out of the public purse. He might have pardoned his own sons, who had acted improperly, before he quitted the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 12:4

They said , Thou hast not defrauded - Of what minister or governor can any nation under heaven say such things? read more

Group of Brands