The Bible: 1 Samuel Chapter 12

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 12 the prophet Samuel recounts a basic history of Israel, covering the Judges up to the first King. He was building a case that the choosing of a King was a sin. This summarised recounting of the Judges is interesting because Bedan is a new name here. Either it's another Judge we didn't know about, or it's Samson or Barak. St Jerome had translated it as Barak as hae others, for various reasons and the word Bedan literally means “in Dan” giving some the idea it was Samson, the judge from Dan. Samuel tells them that he is going to pray for thunder and show them that choosing a king was a sin, and this is what happens. So even though the selecting of Saul as King was a great success, and his initial battle was a victory, Samuel confirms here their great sin in rejecting God. Samuel closes his speech with this “Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.” The last sentence is a prophecy, and it comes to pass in 586 BC.