1Samuel 12

Samuel Addresses the People

12Then Samuel said to the people of Israel, "I have done what you asked me to do. I have given you a king to rule you,H8050H559H3478H8085H6963H559H4427H44282and now you have him to lead you. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are with you. I have been your leader from my youth until now.H4428H1980H6440H2204H7867H1121H1980H6440H5271H31173Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, accuse me now in the presence of the LORD and the king he has chosen. Have I taken anybody's cow or anybody's donkey? Have I cheated or oppressed anyone? Have I accepted a bribe from anyone? If I have done any of these things, I will pay back what I have taken."H6030H3068H4899H7794H3947H2543H3947H6231H7533H3027H3724H5956H5869H77254The people answered, "No, you have not cheated us or oppressed us; you have not taken anything from anyone."H559H6231H7533H3947H3972H376H30275Samuel replied, "The LORD and the king he has chosen are witnesses today that you have found me to be completely innocent." "Yes, the LORD is our witness," they answered.H559H3068H5707H4899H5707H3117H4672H3972H3027H559H57076Samuel continued, "The LORD is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors out of Egypt.H8050H559H5971H3068H6213H4872H175H5927H1H5927H776H47147Now stand where you are, and I will accuse you before the LORD by reminding you of all the mighty actions the LORD did to save you and your ancestors.H3320H8199H6440H3068H6666H3068H6213H18When Jacob and his family went to Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, your ancestors cried to the LORD for help, and he sent Moses and Aaron, who brought them out of Egypt and settled them in this land.H3290H935H4714H1H2199H3068H3068H7971H4872H175H3318H1H4714H3427H47259But the people forgot the LORD their God, and so he let the Philistines and the king of Moab and Sisera, commander of the army of the city of Hazor, fight against your ancestors and conquer them.H7911H3068H430H4376H3027H5516H8269H6635H2674H3027H6430H3027H4428H4124H389810Then they cried to the LORD for help and said, 'We have sinned, because we turned away from you, LORD, and worshiped the idols of Baal and Astarte. Rescue us from our enemies, and we will worship you!'H2199H3068H559H2398H5800H3068H5647H1168H6252H5337H3027H341H564711And the LORD sent Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and finally me. Each of us rescued you from your enemies, and you lived in safety.H3068H7971H3378H917H3316H8050H5337H3027H341H5439H3427H98312But when you saw that King Nahash of Ammon was about to attack you, you rejected the LORD as your king and said to me, 'We want a king to rule us.'H7200H5176H4428H1121H5983H935H559H4428H4427H3068H430H442813"Now here is the king you chose; you asked for him, and now the LORD has given him to you.H4428H977H7592H3068H5414H442814All will go well with you if you honor the LORD your God, serve him, listen to him, and obey his commands, and if you and your king follow him.H3372H3068H5647H8085H6963H4784H6310H3068H4428H4427H310H3068H43015But if you do not listen to the LORD but disobey his commands, he will be against you and your king.H8085H6963H3068H4784H6310H3068H3027H3068H116So then, stand where you are, and you will see the great thing which the LORD is going to do.H1571H3320H7200H1419H1697H3068H6213H586917It's the dry season, isn't it? But I will pray, and the LORD will send thunder and rain. When this happens, you will realize that you committed a great sin against the LORD when you asked him for a king."H2406H7105H3117H7121H3068H5414H6963H4306H3045H7200H7451H7227H6213H5869H3068H7592H442818So Samuel prayed, and on that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. Then all the people became afraid of the LORD and of Samuel,H8050H7121H3068H3068H5414H6963H4306H3117H5971H3966H3372H3068H805019and they said to Samuel, "Please, sir, pray to the LORD your God for us, so that we won't die. We now realize that, besides all our other sins, we have sinned by asking for a king."H5971H559H8050H6419H5650H3068H430H4191H3254H2403H7451H7592H442820"Don't be afraid," Samuel answered. "Even though you have done such an evil thing, do not turn away from the LORD, but serve him with all your heart.H8050H559H5971H3372H6213H7451H5493H310H3068H5647H3068H382421Don't go after false gods; they cannot help you or save you, for they are not real.H5493H310H8414H3276H5337H841422The LORD has made a solemn promise, and he will not abandon you, for he has decided to make you his own people.H3068H5203H5971H1419H8034H2974H3068H6213H597123As for me, the LORD forbid that I should sin against him by no longer praying for you. Instead, I will teach you what is good and right for you to do.H595H2486H2398H3068H2308H6419H3384H2896H3477H187024Obey the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.H3372H3068H5647H571H3824H7200H143125But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be destroyed."H7489H7489H5595H4428