1 Samuel 12:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king."

NIV: Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king."

NASB: Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord, that He will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the Lord, by asking for yourselves a king.'

CSB: Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves."

NLT: You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the Lord for a king!'

KJV: Is 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.

NKJV: Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.”

First Samuel 12:6–19 summarizes Israel's history under the judges (Judges 2:16–19). Despite God's use of judges, the people called for help from a king when Nahash threatened to invade (1 Samuel 11:3–4). This was faithless, but God allowed the nation to appoint Saul. Samuel reminds the people of their obligations to the Lord. He summons a storm, despite it being the dry season. The people are deeply affected by these events and acknowledge their sins.

Samuel gives a speech to the gathered people of Israel, including Saul, the new king. This marks the end of his time as judge over Israel (Judges 2:16–19). He establishes a legal declaration that he is innocent of any corruption. After summarizing God's faithfulness to Israel, Samuel demonstrates that it was wrong of the people to ask for a human king. Yet he assures them of the Lord's faithfulness. He tells them to follow the Lord or be swept away along with their king. Samuel also affirms that he will continue to pray for the people and instruct them in the ways of God.

Samuel was the last of Israel's "judges" who served when Israel came into Canaan (Judges 2:16–19). Here, he transitions into his role as the first of Israel's national prophets. This chapter is his speech explaining this change. The speech may or may not have been given at the sacrificial celebration at Gilgal to renew the kingship of Saul, which is described at the end of the previous chapter (1 Samuel 11:14–15). Though Samuel will continue to serve as the Lord's prophet in Israel, he will no longer be the main political leader and judge. Saul's early decisions as king become the focus of the following chapters (1 Samuel 13—15).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.