1 Samuel 12:3

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 12:3

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:1-5

Character a power. The facts are— 1 . Samuel reminds the people that he (a) has carried out their wishes in setting a king over them, (b) is now a very old man, and (c) has spent the whole of his life among them. 2 . He appeals to God in asserting that the whole of his official life has been free from self-seeking. 3 . The people freely admit that his public conduct has been honest, considerate, and free from greed. The meaning of Samuel's reference to himself is to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:3-5

Witness against me. Literally, "answer," as in a court of justice to the formal question of the judge. His anointed. I.e. the king (see on 1 Samuel 2:10 , 1 Samuel 2:35 ; 1 Samuel 2:1 ). Whose ox,... whose ass? See on 1 Samuel 8:16 . Of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? Bribe should be rendered ransom. Literally it signifies a covering, and was used of money given by a guilty person to induce the judge to close or "blind his eyes," and not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 12:3

His anointed - i. e., king Saul. The title Messiah, Χριστὸς Christos, unctus, or anointed, had been given to the High Priests (Leviticus 4:3 : compare also 1 Samuel 2:10, 1 Samuel 2:35); but this is the earliest instance of an actual king of Israel bearing the title of God’s Christ, and thus typifying the true Messiah or Christ of God.Any bribe - literally, a “ransom,” the fine paid by a criminal in lieu of bonds or death Exodus 21:30, applied to the bribe paid to an unjust judge to induce him... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 12:3

1 Samuel 12:3. Behold, here I am I here present myself before the Lord, and before your king, ready to give an account of all my administrations. And this protestation Samuel makes of his integrity, not out of ostentation, but for his own just vindication, that the people might not hereafter, for the defence of their own irregularities, reproach his government; and that, being publicly acquitted from all faults in his government, he might more freely reprove the sins of the people, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:1-25

Samuel’s farewell address (12:1-25)The people’s demand for a king was an insult to Samuel as well as to God. Samuel therefore called upon them to declare before God and before the king that he had been blameless in all his behaviour. He had given them no cause to be dissatisfied with his leadership (12:1-5).In the lengthy address that followed, Samuel reminded his hearers of all that God had done in giving Israel the land of Canaan for a homeland (6-8). He reminded them also that Israel’s... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 12:3

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . whom . Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "or whom", thus preserving the Figure of speech Paradiastole ( App-6 ) throughout verses: 1 Samuel 12:12 , 1 Samuel 12:3 and 1 Samuel 12:4 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 12:1-5

Samuel’s self-vindication 12:1-5Why did Samuel feel the need to justify his behavior publicly? Perhaps he knew that because the people had rebelled against God by demanding a king, they would experience discipline from the Lord. When it came, he did not want anyone to think he was responsible for it. Also, it is likely that Samuel took the people’s request for a king as a personal rejection of himself. [Note: Wood, Israel’s United . . ., p. 70.] He probably wanted to show the people that they... read more

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