1 Samuel 12:17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:16-25

Two things Samuel here aims at:? I. To convince the people of their sin in desiring a king. They were now rejoicing before God in and with their king (1 Sam. 11:15), and offering to God the sacrifices of praise, which they hoped God would accept; and this perhaps made them think that there was no harm in their asking a king, but really they had done well in it. Therefore Samuel here charges it upon them as their sin, as wickedness, great wickedness in the sight of the Lord. Note, Though we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:17

Is it not wheat harvest today ?.... Of the time of wheat harvest; see Gill on 1 Samuel 6:13 . Rain usually fell in Judea only twice a year, called the former and the latter rain; and from the seventeenth of Nisan or March, to the sixteenth of Marchesvan or October, it was not usual for rain to fall, and so not in harvest, at that time especially, see Proverbs 26:1 . R. Joseph Kimchi says, in the land of Israel rain never fell all the days of harvest; and this is confirmed by Jerom, who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 12:17

Is it not wheat harvest to-day ? - That is, This is the time of wheat harvest. According to St. Jerome, who spent several years in the promised land, this harvest commenced about the end of June or beginning of July, in which he says he never saw rain in Judea: Nunquam enim in fine mensis Junii, sive in mense Julio, in his provinciis, maximeque in Judea, pluvias vidimus . - Hier. in Amos 4:7 ; where he refers to this very history. What occurred now hardly ever occurs there but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:16-25

The outward sign. The facts are— 1 . Samuel, to confirm his argument, calls for thunder and rain during the wheat harvest, thus imperilling their property. 2 . The people, awed by the event, entreat for his intercession. 3 . Samuel encourages hope on the ground of God's mercy, and promises to pray for and instruct them. 4 . He makes a final appeal, setting forth the blessed and sad alternative consequences. Samuel knew well with whom he had to deal; and, therefore, besides... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:17

Wheat harvest. Barley was fit for reaping at the Passover, and wheat at Pentecost, i.e. between the middle of May and the middle of June. Jerome, on Amos 4:7 , testifies that during his long residence in Palestine he had never seen rain there during June and July; but Conder, says, "Storms still occur occasionally in harvest time." He shall send thunder. Hebrew, voices, and so in verse 18 (see 1 Samuel 2:10 ; 1 Samuel 7:9 ). DIVINE TESTIMONY TO SAMUEL 'S INTEGRITY ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 12:17

Wheat harvest - Between May 15 and June 15. Jerome’s testimony (that of an eye-witness) “I have never seen rain in the end of June, or in July, in Judaea” is borne out by modern travelers. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 12:17

1 Samuel 12:17 . Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? At which time it was a rare thing in those parts to have thunder or rain; the weather being more constant in its seasons than it is with us, and the rain being wont to fall periodically, only in the autumn and the spring, called the former and latter rain. He shall send thunder and rain That you may understand that God is displeased with you, and see how foolishly and wickedly you have acted, in rejecting the government of that God at whose... 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 12:17

send. It had to be sent, for rain in harvest was most exceptional; and would be regarded as sent in judgment. Compare Proverbs 26:1 . wickedness. Hebrew. raa '. App-44 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 12:16-18

1 Samuel 12:16-18. Now, therefore, stand and see, &c.— Rain indiscriminately in the winter months, and none at all in the summer, is what is most common in the East; so it is at Aleppo, and about Algiers: and so Jacobus de Vitriaco assures us it is in Judea: for he observes, that "lightning and thunder are wont, in the western countries, to be in the summer, but happen in the Holy Land in winter: that in the summer it seldom or never rains there; but in winter, though the returns of rain... read more