1 Samuel 12:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But they forgot ADONAI their God; so he handed them over to Sisra, commander of the army of Hatzor, and to the P'lishtim, and to the king of Mo'av; and they fought against them.

Berean Standard Bible:

But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

American Standard Version:

But they forgat Jehovah their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And when they forgat^{H7911} the LORD^{H3068} their God^{H430}, he sold^{H4376} them into the hand^{H3027} of Sisera^{H5516}, captain^{H8269} of the host^{H6635} of Hazor^{H2674}, and into the hand^{H3027} of the Philistines^{H6430}, and into the hand^{H3027} of the king^{H4428} of Moab^{H4124}, and they fought^{H3898} against them.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 12:9

1 Samuel 12:9 is part of the prophet Samuel's farewell speech to the Israelites after they had demanded a king to rule over them, a request that signified their rejection of God as their direct ruler. This verse encapsulates a recurring theme in the historical books of the Bible, where the people of Israel turn away from the Lord and worship other gods, leading to divine punishment.

In the context of this verse, the punishment for their spiritual infidelity is succinctly described: God "sold them into the hand" of various adversaries—Sisera, the Philistines, and the king of Moab. Sisera was a Canaanite military commander who oppressed the Israelites during the time of the judges, as recorded in the Book of Judges, chapter 4. The Philistines were a constant threat to Israel's security and were involved in many battles, including those with Samson and later with King David. The king of Moab also subjugated Israel for a period, as recounted in Judges 3.

The verse reflects the historical pattern of the Israelites' relationship with God: they would forsake Him, suffer oppression, cry out for deliverance, and then God would raise up a judge or deliverer to rescue them. This cycle underscores the conditional nature of the covenant between God and Israel, where obedience leads to blessings and disobedience to curses, as outlined in the Book of Deuteronomy. The historical context of 1 Samuel 12:9 serves as a reminder to the people of the consequences of forsaking the Lord and the importance of remaining faithful to the covenant.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7911
   There are 95 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁכַח
   Transliteration: shâkach
   Pronunciation: shaw-kakh'
   Description: or שָׁכֵחַ; a primitive root; to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention; [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4376
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָכַר
   Transliteration: mâkar
   Pronunciation: maw-kar'
   Description: a primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender); [idiom] at all, sell (away, -er, self).
   
5. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5516
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סִיסְרָא
   Transliteration: Çîyçᵉrâʼ
   Pronunciation: see-ser-aw'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Sisera, the name of a Canaanitish king and of one of the Nethinim; Sisera.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8269
   There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שַׂר
   Transliteration: sar
   Pronunciation: sar
   Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6635
   There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָבָא
   Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
   Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
   Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).
   
9. Strong's Number: H2674
   There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָצוֹר
   Transliteration: Châtsôwr
   Pronunciation: khaw-tsore'
   Description: a collective form of חָצֵר; village; Chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine and of one in Arabia; Hazor.
   
10. Strong's Number: H6430
    There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
    Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
    Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
    Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4428
    There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
    Transliteration: melek
    Pronunciation: meh'-lek
    Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
    
12. Strong's Number: H4124
    There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוֹאָב
    Transliteration: Môwʼâb
    Pronunciation: mo-awb
    Description: from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m-and אָב; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants; Moab.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3898
    There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לָחַם
    Transliteration: lâcham
    Pronunciation: law-kham'
    Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).