1-Samuel-12 [1-Samuel 12:1] AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO ALL ISRAEL, BEHOLD, I HAVE HEARKENED UNTO YOUR VOICE IN ALL THAT YE SAID UNTO ME, AND HAVE MADE A KING OVER YOU. Samuel ruled over the people for about 10 years until Saul became king. [1-Samuel 12:2] 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. [1-Samuel 12:3] BEHOLD, HERE I AM: WITNESS AGAINST ME BEFORE THE LORD, AND BEFORE HIS ANOINTED: WHOSE OX HAVE I TAKEN? OR WHOSE ASS HAVE I TAKEN? OR WHOM HAVE I DEFRAUDED? WHOM HAVE I OPPRESSED? OR OF WHOSE HAND HAVE I RECEIVED ANY BRIBE TO BLIND MINE EYES THEREWITH? AND I WILL RESTORE IT YOU. The Sages in a Midrash pointed out how serious is theft and illicit profit-making. Both Moses and Samuel were honest and clean-handed yet they both felt the need to announce this fact and to have it emphasized. In our day we tend to take a different attitude. Most of us automatically tend to assume that if a public appointee (or anyone else in a similar position) does his job well and really helps the community then it should not matter overmuch if he also "helps himself" here and there. In the State of Israel today this is a real problem since the system seems to be so arranged that without bending the letter of the law nothing can be achieved. Later when the public appointee gets up high in the hierarchy he can be blackmailed because of his past. The Prosecution Authorities are humanist and "left-wing" in outlook and appear selective in whom they go after. This leads to "black-mail" type situations in which leaders who make the wrong political decisions may suddenly find themselves under investigation for past misdeeds of which very many are actually guilty. It has been claimed that Arik Sharon himself and his sons are under such pressure and that Arik has admitted as much. His major offence (as far as is known) was receiving funds for his various election campaigns and political activities in an illegal manner. One of his previous rivals (Ehud Barak) did the same thing but on a larger scale and retired a millionaire. Ehud however toed the EU-sponsored left-wing line and so in his case the matter was dropped. How do you like that? I started a Bible Study and straight away got into a political discussion. Anyway the point is that "Little" things we personally may not estimate as important sometimes are emphasized by Scripture and when we look into it the Bible is wiser than we are. "BEFORE HIS ANOINTED": Even though Samuel criticize the people for demanding a monarch before the right times to do so had arrived he emphasizes that the chosen "king" is the anointed one of the Almighty and they have a God-ordained obligation to respect him. Similarly there are those who criticize the State of Israel saying that Modern Zionism was an irreligious movement and the present State was not set up by religious Jews and not initiated by those who were religiously motivated. This criticism may not be quite accurate but supposing for the sake of argument we accept it? No matter what the initial motivation was the final product is a sacred entity and if we do not treat it as such we may be culpable before the Almighty. So too in our own lives we may have entered some kind of arrangement such as a marriage not necessarily for the purest of motifs yet this state of affairs may be holy in the eyes of God and we may be duty bound to treat it as such no matter what our initial intentions may have been. The final end-of-term justification of Samuel is similar in language and content to the argument of Moses concerning Korah and his gang who had challenged his leadership. [Numbers 16:15] AND MOSES WAS VERY WROTH, AND SAID UNTO THE LORD, RESPECT NOT THOU THEIR OFFERING: I HAVE NOT TAKEN ONE ASS FROM THEM, NEITHER HAVE I HURT ONE OF THEM. Samuel was descended from Korah and so you could say that the wheel had come full circle. Just as Korah caused Moses to feel the need to justify the integrity of his leadership so too would the descendant of Korah be reduced to the same circumstance. Just as Moses was a perfect leader yet some of the people (led by Korah) found fault with him so would the same thing happen to Samuel the offspring of Korah. We should all be careful of what we do since it can all come back to us or those who come out of us at a time and place that the Almighty chooses. [Maybe I just had to make your day by saying this but it applies to everyone. At the least Korah could be comforted that a very great man sprang from his loins even if he did have to bear a slight discomfort that may have been partly due to his ancestry.] [1-Samuel 12:4] AND THEY SAID, THOU HAST NOT DEFRAUDED US, NOR OPPRESSED US, NEITHER HAST THOU TAKEN OUGHT OF ANY MAN'S HAND. We saw that Samuel was a descendant of Korach (Korah). This is derived from the Book of Chronicles in which the lineages appear confused at first but can be sorted out. I am using the guidelines of Yehudah Kiel (Daat Mikra) in his Hebrew-language commentary on "Divrei HaYamim" (The Book of Chronicles): Below are some of the relevant verses: 1-Chronicles 6:22 [1-Chronicles 6:1- THE SONS OF LEVI; GERSHON, KOHATH, AND MERARI. [1-Chronicles 6:2] AND THE SONS OF KOHATH; AMRAM, IZHAR, AND HEBRON, AND UZZIEL. [1-Chronicles 6:16] THE SONS OF LEVI; GERSHOM, KOHATH, AND MERARI. [1-Chronicles 6:22] THE SONS OF KOHATH; AMMINADAB HIS SON, KORAH HIS SON, ASSIR HIS SON, [1-Chronicles 6:23] ELKANAH HIS SON, AND EBIASAPH HIS SON, AND ASSIR HIS SON, [1-Chronicles 6:25] AND THE SONS OF ELKANAH; AMASAI, AND AHIMOTH. [1-Chronicles 6:26] AS FOR ELKANAH: THE SONS OF ELKANAH; ZOPHAI HIS SON, AND NAHATH HIS SON, [1-Chronicles 6:27] ELIAB HIS SON, JEROHAM HIS SON, ELKANAH HIS SON. [1-Chronicles 6:28] AND THE SONS OF SAMUEL; THE FIRSTBORN VASHNI, AND ABIAH. I am using the guidelines of Yehudah Kiel (Daat Mikra) in his Hebrew-language commentary on "Divrei HaYamim" (The Book of Chronicles) p. 151: i.e. Levi begat Kohath who begat Yitshar (Izhar) who begat KORAH (also pronounced KORACH) who begat Assir who begat Assir (the first) who begat Elkanah (the firstfollowed in order of succession by Abyasaf, Asir (2), Tahath, Zaphania, Azariah, Yoel(1), Elkanah (2), Amasi, Mahath, Elkanah (3), Zuph, Toah, Eliel, Yerocham, Elkanah (4), Samuel. Samuel is actually "skipped over" in trhe genealogy list in the Book of Chronicles with the "THE SONS OF SAMUEL" being mentioned rather than Samuel himself: [1-Chronicles 6:27] ELIAB HIS SON, JEROHAM HIS SON, ELKANAH HIS SON. [1-Chronicles 6:28] AND THE SONS OF SAMUEL; THE FIRSTBORN VASHNI, AND ABIAH. Eventually we may attempt a commentary of our own on the Book of Chronicles. It can be quite difficult in places. The sages said that the purpose of the Book of Chronicles was to teach through "Midrash" i.e. interpolation and examination, and the book does seem to serve. More as an assisting source for the other Biblical books. At all events Samuel was descended from Korah (of the Tribe of Levi) who had put Moses in the position of having to justify his leadership record [Numbers 16:15]. Samuel now feels himself as if he too is in a similar situation. [1-Samuel 12:5] AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, THE LORD IS WITNESS AGAINST YOU, AND HIS ANOINTED IS WITNESS THIS DAY, THAT YE HAVE NOT FOUND OUGHT IN MY HAND. AND THEY ANSWERED, HE IS WITNESS. "HIS ANOINTED": Notice the repeated emphasis on Saul as the anointed (consecrated) chosen leader. A short while ago Saul was no more than a good-looking well-built farm boy looking for some wayward donkeys at the behest of his uncle. Now he is the anointed king of all Israel who is enjoined to put to death whoever disobeys or disrespects him. He has shown himself worthy to receive the gift of prophecy, proved himself in battle as a savior of Israel, and even Samuel (who raised him up from nowhere) must pay deference to him. [1-Samuel 12:6] AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO THE PEOPLE, IT IS THE LORD THAT ADVANCED MOSES AND AARON, AND THAT BROUGHT YOUR FATHERS UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT. [1-Samuel 12:7] NOW THEREFORE STAND STILL, THAT I MAY REASON WITH YOU BEFORE THE LORD OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE LORD, WHICH HE DID TO YOU AND TO YOUR FATHERS. [1-Samuel 12:8] WHEN JACOB WAS COME INTO EGYPT, AND YOUR FATHERS CRIED UNTO THE LORD, THEN THE LORD SENT MOSES AND AARON, WHICH BROUGHT FORTH YOUR FATHERS OUT OF EGYPT, AND MADE THEM DWELL IN THIS PLACE. [1-Samuel 12:9] AND WHEN THEY FORGAT THE LORD THEIR GOD, HE SOLD THEM INTO THE HAND OF SISERA, CAPTAIN OF THE HOST OF HAZOR, AND INTO THE HAND OF THE PHILISTINES, AND INTO THE HAND OF THE KING OF MOAB, AND THEY FOUGHT AGAINST THEM. [1-Samuel 12:10] AND THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD, AND SAID, WE HAVE SINNED, BECAUSE WE HAVE FORSAKEN THE LORD, AND HAVE SERVED BAALIM AND ASHTAROTH: BUT NOW DELIVER US OUT OF THE HAND OF OUR ENEMIES, AND WE WILL SERVE THEE. [1-Samuel 12:11] AND THE LORD SENT JERUBBAAL, AND BEDAN, AND JEPHTHAH, AND SAMUEL, AND DELIVERED YOU OUT OF THE HAND OF YOUR ENEMIES ON EVERY SIDE, AND YE DWELLED SAFE. "JERUBBAAL": This was ANOTHER NAME FOR Gideon (Judges 6:32): It means "Quarrel with Baal". "BEDAN": This traditionally (Talmud, Rosh HaShana 71) is another name for Samson of the Tribe of Dan. The sages said the name means "Came out of Dan". In the 500s C E there was a "Celtic" Kingdom named Baddan in Southwest England (Gloucestershire, Avonshire, into Wiltshire) adjoining Dannonia (to the Southwest) that we have traced to the Tribe of Dan [1-Samuel 12:12] AND WHEN YE SAW THAT NAHASH THE KING OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON CAME AGAINST YOU, YE SAID UNTO ME, NAY; BUT A KING SHALL REIGN OVER US: WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD WAS YOUR KING. [1-Samuel 12:13] NOW THEREFORE BEHOLD THE KING WHOM YE HAVE CHOSEN, AND WHOM YE HAVE DESIRED! AND, BEHOLD, THE LORD HATH SET A KING OVER YOU. [1-Samuel 12:14] IF YE WILL FEAR THE LORD, AND SERVE HIM, AND OBEY HIS VOICE, AND NOT REBEL AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, THEN SHALL BOTH YE AND ALSO THE KING THAT REIGNETH OVER YOU CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE LORD YOUR GOD: Even though they may have done wrongly by demanding a king before the chosen time now that a king has been given unto them they must obey him and if they go in the right path they will be blessed. Similarly it has been claimed that the Zionists caused the creation of the State of Israel before the time had come. This is debatable but EVEN IF THERE IS SOMETHING TO IT now that a State of Israel does exist it is consecrated by the Almighty. The existence of the State of Israel is the will of the Almighty and the Peoples of the world have to respect this will. The Jews of Israel on their part should keep the Torah but that is their own responsibility. The two aspects may be dependent on each other but the Almighty will decide. Each one of us has a duty and a task in this life of their own to fulfill. [1-Samuel 12:15] BUT IF YE WILL NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD, BUT REBEL AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, THEN SHALL THE HAND OF THE LORD BE AGAINST YOU, AS IT WAS AGAINST YOUR FATHERS. Be good and it will go good with you. Be bad and bad will come unto you. This applies in our private life but it is amplified manifold at the national level. [1-Samuel 12:16] NOW THEREFORE STAND AND SEE THIS GREAT THING, WHICH THE LORD WILL DO BEFORE YOUR EYES. [1-Samuel 12:17] IS IT NOT WHEAT HARVEST TO DAY? I WILL CALL UNTO THE LORD, AND HE SHALL SEND THUNDER AND RAIN; THAT YE MAY PERCEIVE AND SEE THAT YOUR WICKEDNESS IS GREAT, WHICH YE HAVE DONE IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, IN ASKING YOU A KING. [1-Samuel 12:18] SO SAMUEL CALLED UNTO THE LORD; AND THE LORD SENT THUNDER AND RAIN THAT DAY: AND ALL THE PEOPLE GREATLY FEARED THE LORD AND SAMUEL. [1-Samuel 12:19] AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAID UNTO SAMUEL, PRAY FOR THY SERVANTS UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, THAT WE DIE NOT: FOR WE HAVE ADDED UNTO ALL OUR SINS THIS EVIL, TO ASK US A KING. [1-Samuel 12:20] AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO THE PEOPLE, FEAR NOT: YE HAVE DONE ALL THIS WICKEDNESS: YET TURN NOT ASIDE FROM FOLLOWING THE LORD, BUT SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART; [1-Samuel 12:21] AND TURN YE NOT ASIDE: FOR THEN SHOULD YE GO AFTER VAIN THINGS, WHICH CANNOT PROFIT NOR DELIVER; FOR THEY ARE VAIN. Evolution and overduly relying on scientific explanations or on "New Age" type fantasies and the like are empty vanities. [1-Samuel 12:22] FOR THE LORD WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS PEOPLE FOR HIS GREAT NAME'S SAKE: BECAUSE IT HATH PLEASED THE LORD TO MAKE YOU HIS PEOPLE. Whether we like it or not the Almighty has chosen His people and those who belong are duty bound to do what they are called upon to do. [1-Samuel 12:23] MOREOVER AS FOR ME, GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD SIN AGAINST THE LORD IN CEASING TO PRAY FOR YOU: BUT I WILL TEACH YOU THE GOOD AND THE RIGHT WAY: Even if we become disillusioned with our own people or with Judah or with our fellow "believers" or even (Heaven forbid!) with Brit-Am we have a duty to do as well as we can on behalf of our nations and to pray and do good. [1-Samuel 12:24] ONLY FEAR THE LORD, AND SERVE HIM IN TRUTH WITH ALL YOUR HEART: FOR CONSIDER HOW GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE FOR YOU. "IN TRUTH": We should realize the God is true, the Bible is true, this is a true cause, and truly for the benefit of all. Therefore we should truly serve the Almighty and truly want to do so. [1-Samuel 12:25] BUT IF YE SHALL STILL DO WICKEDLY, YE SHALL BE CONSUMED, BOTH YE AND YOUR KING. If you fall down you may be in danger of losing everything. If one does fall then one can always pick themselves up and are duty bound to do so but better not to fall at all. 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