1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:1

MAde a king] To wit, at Gilgal. Chap. 11. 15.

1 Samuel 12:2

walketh before you] That is, is setled in his kingly office, to govern you, and to go before you to the wa.

I am old] And therefore unfit any longer to undertake the the publike affairs of the kingdom.

my sons are with you] Not as rulers, but as private men, to do you service, and to give an account to you and your king of what they have done.

1 Samuel 12:3

Behold, here I am] Ecclus. 46. 19. To wit, ready to give an account to you and your king of all my actions in the government of the common-wealth, since I first undertook it.

before his anointed] That is, Saul, whom, by Gods appointment, I have anointed to be king over you. So v. 5. and Chap. 24. 7.

whose ox] God would that Samuels example should be a patern for all them that have any charge or office.

bribe] Hebr. ransome.

blinde mine eyes therewith] Or, that I should hide mine eyes at him. That is, that I might not take notice of their faults, to punish them according to their demerits, being corrupted with their bribes.

1 Samuel 12:5

ought in my hand] To wit, which I have taken to pervert justice.

1 Samuel 12:6

advanced] Hebr. made. Making Moses the governour of his people, and Aaron high priest.

1 Samuel 12:7

righteous acts] Heb. righteousnesses, or, benefits. To wit, as well benefits as punishments, in both which he justifieth God against them.

to] Heb. with.

1 Samuel 12:8

When Jacob was come into Egypt] Gen. 46. 5, 6. That is, when he and his posterity had long continued in Egypt, and were exceedingly multiplied. See Exod. 1. 13, 14. 2. 23, 24.

sent Moses and Aaron] Exodus 4:16.

In this place] Moses setling them in the land of the Amorites beyond Jordan, and Joshua, by his direction, according to Gods will, in the land of Canaan.

1 Samuel 12:11

and Bedan] That is, as some understand, Samson of the tribe of Dan: or, as others, Jair the Gileadite, Judg. 10. 3. of the tribe of Manafleh; of whom, see 1 Chron. 7. 17.

Jephthah] Judges 11:1.

1 Samuel 12:12

Nay, but a king] See Chap. 8. 5, 19.

was your king] With whose government you should have been contented.

1 Samuel 12:14

commandment] Heb. mouth.

continue following] Heb. be after. To wit, as your king and leader, and be still safe under his protection.

1 Samuel 12:16

this great thing] That is, this strange miracle of thunder and sudden rain.

1 Samuel 12:17

wheat-harvest] To wit, a season in which it seldome rains in the land of Canaan, Proverbs 26:1.

is great] To wit, in refusing the immortall and Almighty God to be your king, and desiring to be ruled by a mortall man.

1 Samuel 12:18

sent thunder] To wit, in an unusuall and terrible manner, to convince them of their sin, Ezr. 10. 9.

feared the Lord] Unto whom thunder, rain and tempests obey, and Samuel, who had obtained them by his prayers.

1 Samuel 12:20

yet turn not aside] q. d. Though you have grievously sinned, yet there is no sin so great, but shall be forgiven, if the sinner turn unto God by repentance.

1 Samuel 12:21

vain things] That is, idolls; which being vain, and of no worth, 1 Corinthians 8:4. do lead men to vanity, Jer. 10. 8, 14. Hab. 2. 18.

1 Samuel 12:22

make you his people] To wit, of his free grace, and not your merits, and therefore he will not forsake you.

1 Samuel 12:23

sin against the Lord] Who commandeth his prophets and ministers to pray and preach, 1 Corinthians 9:16. and therefore I will not cease to perform my duty, though you have ungratefully rejected me.

in ceasing] Heb. from ceasing.

1 Samuel 12:24

how great things] Or, what a great thing, &c.