1 Samuel 12:2

1 Samuel 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of 1 Samuel 12:2

1Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you have said to me and appointed a king over you. And now, here is the king who will lead you. I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day. 3Here I am. Testify against me in front of the Lord and in front of his anointed king. Did I take anyone’s ox? Did I take anyone’s donkey? Did I cheat or oppress anyone? Did I take a bribe from anyone to look the other way? ⌞If so,⌟ I will give it all back.” 4They answered, “You didn’t cheat us, oppress us, or take anything from anyone.”

1 Samuel 12:2 word by word

וְעַתָּ֞ה הִנֵּ֥ה הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ׀ מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֗ם וַאֲנִי֙ זָקַ֣נְתִּי וָשַׂ֔בְתִּי וּבָנַ֖י הִנָּ֣ם אִתְּכֶ֑ם וַאֲנִי֙ הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם מִנְּעֻרַ֖י עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And now, behold, the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• walkethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• you: and I am oldזָקֵןzâqên · be oldH2204
• and grayheadedשִׂיבώîyb · be grayH7867
• and, behold, my sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• you from my childhoodנְעוּרִיםnâ‛ûr nâ‛ûr ne‛ûrâh · youthH5271
• unto this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 12:2

• 1 Samuel 8:20Then we, too, will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us out ⌞to war⌟, and fight our battles.”
• Numbers 27:17who will lead them in and out ⌞of battle⌟ so that the Lord’s community will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
• 1 Samuel 8:1When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
• Psalms 71:18Even when I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me live to tell the people of this age what your strength has accomplished, to tell about your power to all who will come.
• Isaiah 46:3Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, the few people left of the nation of Israel. I’ve carried you since your birth. I’ve taken care of you from the time you were born.
• 2 Timothy 4:6My life is coming to an end, and it is now time for me to be poured out as a sacrifice to God.
• 2 Peter 1:14I know that I will die soon. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made that clear to me.
• 1 Samuel 2:22Now, Eli was very old, and he had heard everything that his sons were doing to all Israel and that they were sleeping with the women who served at the gate of the tent of meeting.
• 1 Samuel 3:13I told him that I would hand down a permanent judgment against his household because he knew about his sons’ sin—that they were cursing God —but he didn’t try to stop them.
• 1 Samuel 8:3The sons didn’t follow their father’s example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.
• 1 Samuel 3:19Samuel grew up. The Lord was with him and didn’t let any of his words go unfulfilled.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 12:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2My sons are with you - It is generally agreed that these words intimate that Samuel had deprived them of their public employ, and reduced them to a level with the common people. Have walked before you from my childhood - He had been a long, steady, and immaculate servant of the public.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2My sons are with you - Possibly, however, a tinge of mortified feeling at the rejection of himself and his family, mixed with a desire to recommend his sons to the favor and goodwill of the nation, is at the bottom of this mention of them.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25The confirmation of Saul as king at Gilgal was the last step in making him king (1 Samuel 11:12–15). It was also a suitable time for Samuel to give his farewell speech as Israel's leader.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-51Sa 12:1-5. Samuel Testifies his Integrity. 1-4. Samuel said unto all Israel--This public address was made after the solemn re-instalment of Saul, and before the convention at Gilgal separated. Samuel, having challenged a review of his public life, received a unanimous testimony to the unsullied honor of his personal character, as well as the justice and integrity of his public administration.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 12:2

• Samuel

In the dictionaries

• Reason
• Samuel, Books of
• Judges, Period of
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings