1 Samuel 12
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 12
NJB (MT versing) Samuel Addresses Israel Samuel's Address at Saul's Coronation Samuel's Farewill Address Samuel Addresses the People Samuel Gives Way to Saul 12:1-5 12:1-5 12:1-5 12:1-3 12:1-5 12:4 12:5a 12:5b 12:6-11 12:6-15 12:6-18 12:6-12 12:6-11 The King Confirmed 12:12-18 12:12-15 12:16-18 12:16-19 12:13-17 12:18-19 12:19-25 12:19-25 12:19-25 12:20-25 12:20-25 Etc.
1 Samuel 12:1-5
12:1 "Samuel said" This whole chapter is Samuel's address to the people after Saul is affirmed as king. It is obvious there are two views, both recorded in Scripture, about the appointment of a king. This chapter has the negative view. 1 Sam. 12:12-13 1 Sam. 12:17-18 1 Sam. 12:19-25 Even with a king, Israel will be judged if she does not keep YHWH's revealed will (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Notice the "ifs" of vv. 14,15,25. The covenant with Israel was always "conditional" on obedience. This is why modern theologians call it a "performance based covenant" (i.e., Deut. 30:15,19; Ps. 1:1). SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT ▣ "I have listened to your voice" This refers to 1 Samuel 8. 12:2 "my sons are with you" From earlier chapters we know Samuel's sons, like Eli's sons, were not faithful people (cf. 1 Sam. 8:3,5). This phrase conveys that Samuel thought all Israel was sinful (v. 17) his hearers all belonged to the same generation he was trying to commend their leadership in the future after his death I like option #1. 12:3 Samuel wants to make it clear that he did not use his position of leadership for personal gain. never stole never defrauded never oppressed never took a bribe 12:5 "His anointed" This was an idiom of YHWH's calling and equipping leaders (i.e., kings, priests, and possibly prophets). SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE
1 Samuel 12:6-11
12:6-8 Samuel reminds Israel of the Exodus and Conquest (cf. 1 Sam. 10:18). This was the YHWH-promised origin (cf. Gen. 12:1-3; 15:12-21) of the covenant people. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS 12:7 "stand" See note at 1 Sam. 12:16. 12:9-11 This describes the terrible cycles of sin and repentance and deliverance of the book of Judges. Again and again this pattern occurs. 12:9 "they forgot the Lord their God" This is imagery for Israel ignoring the writings of Moses (cf. Deut. 32:18; Ps. 78:11; 106:21). This is willful disobedience, not ignorance or forgetfulness (i.e., Jer. 23:27). ▣ "so He sold them" This VERB (BDB 569, KB 581, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) denotes YHWH's presence and protection being removed and Israel's enemies prevailing (cf. Deut. 32:30; Jdgs. 2:14; 3:8; 4:2,9; 10:7; Ps. 44:12; Isa. 50:1; 52:3; Jer. 15:13). This phrase is the theological opposite of "ransom" and "redeem" (i.e., to buy back). ▣ "into the hand" This is an idiom for power or control. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND 12:10 "they cried out to the Lord" This was an idiom of prayer and repentance so common in Judges (cf. Jdgs. 3:9,15; 4:3; 6:6,7; 10:10,12). 12:11 "Jerubbaal" This is Gideon (cf. Jdgs. 6:31,32; 7:1). ▣ "Bedan" Many ancient versions have "Barak" (LXX), who was Deborah's military helper (cf. Jdgs. 4:6) because the name "Bedan" does not appear anywhere in Judges or the OT. ▣ "Samuel" Samuel is obviously listed as a judge. The Aramaic Targums list the judges in v. 11 as "Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, and Shamuel." The Peshitta has "Deborah, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson." Why the differences is uncertain. It may be oral tradition. See John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture. ▣ NASB, NJB, REB, JPSOA "in security" NKJV, NRSV, TEV, Peshitta "in safety" "securely" The MT has the noun (BDB 105 I) which denotes quietness security It was one of the covenant promises of Lev. 25:18-19; 26:5. It was part of Moses' prayer for Israel before his death (cf. Deut. 33:28). It meant agricultural blessing and no invasions.
1 Samuel 12:12-18
12:12 "although the Lord your God was your king" This refers to 1 Sam. 8:7 (also note Jdgs. 8:23). Israel must keep in mind that she is a special people, created to reveal YHWH to the nations (cf. 1 Sam. 12:22). If she acts like the nations the revelation fails. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 12:13 This is sarcasm. Saul is described as the king they chose they asked for 12:14 Notice the conditions. fear/revere YHWH, v. 24 serve/worship YHWH, v. 24 listen/obey YHWH do not rebel against His revealed will 12:15 "the hand of the Lord will be against you" This refers to the covenant "curses" of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. 12:16 "take your stand" This VERB (BDB 426, KB 427, Hiphil IMPERATIVE) was used in 1 Sam. 10:19 in the sense of "present yourself before the Lord" (cf. Job 1:6; 2:1) in 1 Sam. 12:7 for standing before a judge in a lawsuit here, it denotes preparation for a confirming sign (i.e., thunder and rain during the dry season) 12:17-18 As Samuel gave Saul several signs in chapter 10, now he gives Israel a warning sign (i.e., rain during wheat harvest, which was the dry season). They have already sinned by asking for a king (v. 19). Now they must be sure they do not sin again, as their fathers did, by disobeying YHWH's will (i.e., the Mosaic revelation).
1 Samuel 12:19-25
12:20-21 Samuel lists some of the deadly sins that faced Israel in the past and now face her again. turn aside from YHWH's laws serve/worship with only partial devotion and allegiance, cf. v. 24 idolatry 12:21 "futile things" "empty things" "useless things" "false gods" "useless idols" "sham gods" "worthless things" "things that are nothing" "vain things" The MT has a noun (BDB 1062) with several connotations (all negative). formless (i.e., Gen. 1:2) confusion (i.e.., Isa. 24:10) unreality (i.e., Isa. 41:9; 44:9) emptiness (i.e., Deut. 32:10; Job 26:7) false arguments (i.e., Isa. 29:21) nothing (i.e., Isa. 40:17; 49:4) This same concept is often expressed by another word, "vanity," "emptiness" (BDB 996), which denoted idolatry. SPECIAL TOPIC: EMPTY, VAIN, FALSE, NOTHINGNESS (BDB 996) 12:22 See note at 1 Sam. 12:12. 12:23 What a great verse on prayer! SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER SPECIAL TOPIC: EFFECTIVE PRAYER ▣ "the good and right way" "Way" is a biblical idiom of living a godly, obedient, daily faith. The concept is expressed in several ways. "the good way in which they should walk" ‒ 1 Kgs. 8:36 "blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked" ‒ Psalm 1 ("the two ways," cf. Deut. 30:15,19) "the way of life" ‒ Ps. 119:105; Pro. 6:23 "the everlasting way" ‒ Ps. 139:24 "so you will walk in the way of good men" ‒ Pro. 2:20 expressed negatively in Isa. 65:2 often it is expressed by "do not turn to the right or left" (cf. Deut. 5:32; 17:20; 28:14; Josh. 1:7; 23:6) 12:24 NASB, NKJV, LXX, Peshitta "in truth" NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA "faith fully" The MT has a FEMININE NOUN (BDB 54) which can mean firmness faithfulness Truth In this context #2 fits best (cf. 1 Kgs. 2:4; 3:6; 2 Kgs. 20:3; Isa. 38:3). SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH, AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 12:25 "But if you still do wickedly" This is an intensified grammatical construction ‒ an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 949, KB 1269, Hiphil). Covenant disobedience has consequences in time and in eternity, both for the individual and the collective whole.