📖 1 Samuel — Chapter 12 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
1 Samuel 12:1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, RBehold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
1 Samuel 12:2 And now, behold, the king Rwalketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
1 Samuel 12:3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before Rhis anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any Tbribe Tto blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
1 Samuel 12:4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.
1 Samuel 12:5 And he said unto them, RThe LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
1 Samuel 12:6 And Samuel said unto the people, RIt is the LORD that Tadvanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
1 Samuel 12:7 Now therefore stand still, that I may Rreason with you before the LORD of all the Trighteous acts of the LORD, which he did Tto you and to your fathers.
1 Samuel 12:8 When RJacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
1 Samuel 12:9 And when they Rforgat 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.
1 Samuel 12:10 RAnd they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
1 Samuel 12:11 And the LORD sent RJerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
1 Samuel 12:12 And when ye saw that RNahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
1 Samuel 12:13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye Rhave desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
1 Samuel 12:14 RIf ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the Tcommandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you Tcontinue following the LORD your God:
1 Samuel 12:15 RBut if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
1 Samuel 12:16 Now therefore Rstand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
1 Samuel 12:17 RIs it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD Rsent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
1 Samuel 12:19 And all the people said unto Samuel, RPray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
1 Samuel 12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, RFear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
1 Samuel 12:21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after Rvain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
1 Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people Rfor his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, RGod forbid that I should sin against the LORD Tin ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
1 Samuel 12:24 Only Rfear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider Thow great things he hath done for you.
1 Samuel 12:25 RBut if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Samuel 12:1–5 — Samuel invites public examination
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Samuel asks the people to testify whether he has defrauded, oppressed, or taken bribes. They affirm his integrity before the LORD and the king. Leadership is presented as accountable service rather than immunity from examination.
Key Truth: Samuel makes his conduct open to the people he has served.
Check What You Remember
1. Who invited the people to examine his conduct? (1 Samuel 12:1)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:1 (KJV).
2. What corrupt payment did he ask whether he had received? (1 Samuel 12:3)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:3 (KJV).
3. Did the people accuse him of oppression? (1 Samuel 12:4)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:4 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Samuel 12:6–15 — God's rescue and Israel's responsibilities
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Samuel recalls the LORD's repeated deliverances and Israel's forgetting him. The request for kingship came while the LORD was their king. Both people and ruler must now obey the LORD; a new political office does not replace covenant faithfulness.
Key Truth: The king and the people share responsibility to follow the LORD.
Check What You Remember
1. Which two leaders brought Israel out of Egypt? (1 Samuel 12:8)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:8 (KJV).
2. Which Ammonite king prompted Israel's request? (1 Samuel 12:12)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:12 (KJV).
3. Whose voice must king and people obey? (1 Samuel 12:14)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:14 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Samuel 12:16–25 — A sign, reassurance, and continued prayer
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Thunder and rain at wheat harvest confirm the warning, and the people confess their request as sin. Samuel urges wholehearted service, assures them of God's faithfulness to his name, and commits himself to prayer and teaching.
Key Truth: Acknowledged sin calls for renewed obedience rather than turning away in despair.
Check What You Remember
1. Which two weather signs did the LORD send? (1 Samuel 12:18)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:18 (KJV).
2. For whose great name's sake would the LORD not forsake his people? (1 Samuel 12:22)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:22 (KJV).
3. What did Samuel refuse to cease doing for them? (1 Samuel 12:23)
Find it in 1 Samuel 12:23 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Samuel 8:7 — The earlier explanation of the kingship request underlies Samuel's address.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How does Samuel combine a truthful rebuke with reassurance and an ongoing commitment to help?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How do the people answer Samuel’s invitation to judge his integrity?
2. What cycle does Samuel recall in Israel’s history?
3. What condition applies to both the people and their new king?
4. What was the purpose of thunder and rain at wheat harvest?
5. How does Samuel join warning with continued help?
Notes
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