1 Samuel 12:1-13 ▼

1 Then Samuel (his name is El) said to all Israel (he wrestles with God), “I have listened to your⁺ voice in all that you⁺ have said to me, and I have set over you⁺ a king.

2 Now here is the king walking before you⁺, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you⁺. I have walked before you⁺ from my youth until this day.

3 Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD {YHWH} and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it \And I will restore it/ to you⁺.”

4 “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.”

5 Samuel said to them, “The LORD {YHWH} is a witness against you⁺, and His anointed is a witness today, that you⁺ have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

6 Then Samuel (his name is El) said to the people, “The LORD {YHWH} is the One who [The LORD is the witness who] appointed Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer), and who brought your⁺ fathers up out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage).

7 Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you⁺ before the LORD {YHWH} with all the righteous acts He has done for you⁺ and your⁺ fathers.

8 When Jacob (he grasps the heel) went to Egypt [and the Egyptians oppressed them], your⁺ fathers cried out to the LORD {YHWH}, and He sent them Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer), who brought your⁺ fathers out of Egypt (land of bondage) and settled them in this place.

9 But they forgot the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem}, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera (battle array) the commander of the army of Hazor [the army of Jabin king of Hazor], and into the hands of the Philistines (immigrants) and the king of Moab (of his father), who fought against them.

10 Then they cried out to the LORD {YHWH} and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals (lord) and Ashtoreths (star). Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

11 So the LORD {YHWH} sent Jerubbaal (let Baal contend), Barak [Bedan], Jephthah (he opens), and Samuel [Samson], and He delivered you⁺ from the hands of your⁺ enemies on every side, and you⁺ dwelt securely.

12 But when you⁺ saw that Nahash (serpent) king of the Ammonites (tribal) was moving against you⁺, you⁺ said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} was your⁺ king.

13 Now here is the king you⁺ have chosen, the one you⁺ requested. Behold, the LORD {YHWH} has placed a king over you⁺.