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1 Samuel 12:1

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¶ And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

And Samuel {H8050} said {H559} unto all Israel {H3478}, Behold, I have hearkened {H8085} unto your voice {H6963} in all that ye said {H559} unto me, and have made {H4427} a king {H4428} over you.

Sh'mu'el said to all Isra'el, "Here, I have done everything you asked me to do -I have made a king over you.

Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king.

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:1 (KJV)

1 Samuel 12:1 marks a significant moment in Israel's history, as Samuel, the respected prophet and last of the judges, addresses the nation. This verse sets the stage for Samuel's farewell discourse, where he vindicates his own integrity and admonishes the people for their demand for a human king.

Context

This address takes place after Saul has been publicly confirmed and accepted as Israel's first king (1 Samuel 11:15). The people had previously demanded a king, rejecting God's direct rule over them through judges like Samuel (1 Samuel 8:5). Despite his initial displeasure and God's warning about the nature of kingship, Samuel, under divine instruction, anointed Saul as king. Here, Samuel publicly acknowledges that he has fulfilled their request, transitioning Israel from a theocracy led by prophets and judges to a monarchy.

Key Themes

  • Transition of Leadership: The verse highlights the formal shift in Israel's governance from Samuel's judgeship to Saul's kingship. It symbolizes the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
  • Samuel's Obedience and Integrity: Samuel emphasizes that he has "hearkened unto your voice," demonstrating his commitment to the people's will, even when it diverged from God's ideal. This sets up his subsequent challenge to them regarding his own blameless conduct.
  • Israel's Choice and God's Condescension: While Israel's demand for a king was a rejection of God as their true sovereign (1 Samuel 8:7), God, in His patience, allowed their request to be fulfilled. This verse points to God working within the framework of human choices.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hearkened unto your voice" comes from the Hebrew verb shama (שָׁמַע), which means more than just to hear. It implies listening attentively, obeying, and complying. Samuel's use of this word underscores his active role in fulfilling the people's desire, not just passively observing it.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God often works through human decisions, even those that may not align with His perfect will. It speaks to the importance of leadership that listens to the people, yet also challenges them when necessary, as Samuel does in the verses that follow. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to seek God's ideal will, rather than simply pursuing what "everyone else" is doing, and to trust in His sovereignty even when circumstances change dramatically.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 10:24 (5 votes)

    And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

  • 1 Samuel 11:14 (4 votes)

    Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

  • 1 Samuel 11:15 (4 votes)

    And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

  • 1 Samuel 10:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance?

  • 1 Samuel 8:5 (2 votes)

    And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

  • 1 Samuel 8:8 (2 votes)

    According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

  • 1 Samuel 8:19 (2 votes)

    Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;