Read & explore together
Samuel's Farewell Address
In this farewell address, Samuel reviews Israel’s past and their recent choice of a king. He shows that the central question has not changed: will the people and their king listen to Yahweh?
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
This speech is given to all Israel after Samuel has made a king over them. Samuel first asks the people to testify about his own conduct, then recounts Yahweh’s acts for their fathers, and finally calls the nation to fear, serve, and obey Yahweh.
1 Samuel 12:1–25Main takeaway
Samuel teaches that Israel’s future with a king still depends on fearing Yahweh, serving him truly, and not turning aside.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Samuel invites public testimonySamuel says he has listened to the people and made a king over them. Then he asks whether he has taken property, defrauded anyone, oppressed anyone, or accepted a bribe.
Explanation
Samuel says he has listened to the people and made a king over them. Then he asks whether he has taken property, defrauded anyone, oppressed anyone, or accepted a bribe. The people answer no, and Yahweh and his anointed are named as witnesses. Samuel’s own conduct is examined openly before he continues.
02Samuel recalls Yahweh’s righteous actsSamuel tells the people to stand still while he speaks about Yahweh’s righteous acts. He recalls Yahweh bringing their fathers out of Egypt through Moses and Aaron.
Explanation
Samuel tells the people to stand still while he speaks about Yahweh’s righteous acts. He recalls Yahweh bringing their fathers out of Egypt through Moses and Aaron. He also describes a pattern: the people forgot Yahweh, came under enemies, cried out confessing sin, and Yahweh sent deliverers.
03The king does not replace YahwehWhen Nahash came against them, the people demanded a king, though Samuel says Yahweh was their king.
Explanation
When Nahash came against them, the people demanded a king, though Samuel says Yahweh was their king. Even so, Yahweh has set a king over them. What matters now is whether both people and king fear Yahweh, serve him, listen to his voice, and do not rebel.
04Confession, instruction, and warningSamuel calls to Yahweh, and thunder and rain come as a sign about their asking for a king.
Explanation
Samuel calls to Yahweh, and thunder and rain come as a sign about their asking for a king. The people confess this evil and ask for prayer. Samuel tells them not to turn away, but to serve Yahweh with all their heart. He will pray and instruct them, yet warns that continuing in evil will bring ruin.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Samuel ask the people to speak about whether he has taken or oppressed anything from them?
Their public answer shows that no such charge is found in his hand as he addresses them.
02What repeated pattern from Israel’s past does Samuel name?
Trace the order: forgetting Yahweh, enemy oppression, confession of sin, and Yahweh sending deliverance.
03After the people admit their evil, what does Samuel tell them to do?
He tells them not to turn away, but to serve Yahweh with all their heart and not go after vain things.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Samuel 12:1–25
1Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
2Now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day.
3Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
4They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
5He said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” They said, “He is witness.”
6Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
7Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to you and to your fathers.
8“When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.
9But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.
10They cried to Yahweh, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
11Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety.
12“When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when Yahweh your God was your king.
13Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen and whom you have asked for. Behold, Yahweh has set a king over you.
14If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God.
15But if you will not listen to Yahweh’s voice, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then Yahweh’s hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16“Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
17Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in Yahweh’s sight, in asking for a king.”
18So Samuel called to Yahweh, and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
19All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.”
20Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart.
21Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.
22For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself.
23Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
24Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
25But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.”