1Sa 12:1-5 | Clarke | STEP | Samuel, grown old, testifies his integrity before the people, which they confirm, . He reproves them for their ingratitude and disobedience; and gives a summary of the history of their fathers, . He exhorts them to future obedience, and calls for a sign from heaven to confirm his authority, and to show them their disobedience: God sends an extraordinary thunder and rain, . He warns them against idolatry, and exhorts to obedience, and promises to intercede for them, . Sums up their duty, and concludes with a solemn warning, , . Verse 1 And Samuel said - It is very likely that it was at this public meeting Samuel delivered the following address; no other time seems to be given for it, and this is the most proper that could be chosen.

1 Samuel 12:1-5

Introduction

Samuel, grown old, testifies his integrity before the people, which they confirm, 1Sam 12:1-5. He reproves them for their ingratitude and disobedience; and gives a summary of the history of their fathers, 1Sam 12:6-12. He exhorts them to future obedience, and calls for a sign from heaven to confirm his authority, and to show them their disobedience: God sends an extraordinary thunder and rain, 1Sam 12:13-19. He warns them against idolatry, and exhorts to obedience, and promises to intercede for them, 1Sam 12:20-23. Sums up their duty, and concludes with a solemn warning, 1Sam 12:24, 1Sam 12:25.

Verse 1

And Samuel said - It is very likely that it was at this public meeting Samuel delivered the following address; no other time seems to be given for it, and this is the most proper that could be chosen. Verse 2

My sons are with you - It is generally agreed that these words intimate that Samuel had deprived them of their public employ, and reduced them to a level with the common people.

Have walked before you from my childhood - He had been a long, steady, and immaculate servant of the public. Verse 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 government; but though he was the most tender of parents, he would not, but abandoned them to national justice, with only a tacit solicitation of mercy: Behold, my sons are with you! They have acted improperly; I deprived them of their authority; they are amenable to you for their past conduct; I have walked uprightly and disinterestedly among you; they have not followed my steps: but can you forgive them for their father's sake? As a minister of justice, he abandons them to their fate; as a tender father, he indirectly and modestly pleads for them on the ground of his own services. Had he not acted thus in both these relations, he would have been unworthy of that character which he so deservedly bears. Verse 4

They said, Thou hast not defrauded - Of what minister or governor can any nation under heaven say such things?