1 Samuel 12:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king."

NIV: The people all said to Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king."

NASB: Then all the people said to Samuel, 'Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we do not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, by asking for ourselves a king.'

CSB: They pleaded with Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves."

NLT: Pray to the Lord your God for us, or we will die!' they all said to Samuel. 'For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.'

KJV: And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray 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.

NKJV: And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”

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.