1 Samuel 12:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.

NIV: Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day.

NASB: Now, here is the king walking before you, but as for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. And I have walked before you since my youth to this day.

CSB: Now you can see that the king is leading you. As for me, I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now.

NLT: Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you — an old, gray-haired man — and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.

KJV: And now, behold, the king walketh 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.

NKJV: And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

First Samuel 12:1–5 begins Samuel's speech announcing that he will no longer be Israel's judge. Saul will be fully empowered as king. The address begins with an opportunity for anyone with a grievance to accuse Samuel. The people testify that Samuel has not acted in any improper way. This establishes that what he says next can be trusted.

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.