1 Samuel 12:3

“Behold, here I am, etc.] No longer the supreme governor, but a subject, and accountable for any misdemeanour charged upon me, and to which I am ready to give answer, being now at your bar to be tried and judged before you: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed; signifying, that if they had anything to lay to his charge, that they would produce it, and give proof and evidence of it in the presence of God, in whose name they met, and of Saul, anointed king, and supreme judge and ruler of the nation: whose ox have I taken? by force to employ in his own service in ploughing his ground, or treading out his corn: or whose ass have I taken? to ride about on in his circuit, or…”

“His anointed - i. e., king Saul. The title Messiah, Χριστὸς Christos, unctus, or anointed, had been given to the High Priests (Leviticus 4:3 : compare also 1 Samuel 2:10, 1 Samuel 2:35); but this is the earliest instance of an actual king of Israel bearing the title of God’s Christ, and thus typifying the true Messiah or Christ of God. Any bribe - literally, a “ransom,” the fine paid by a criminal in lieu of bonds or death Exodus 21:30, applied to the bribe paid to an unjust judge to induce him to acquit the guilty. (Compare Amos 5:12.) To blind ... - See the margin. The phrase is used of one who averts his eyes, as refusing assistance, or as showing contempt, or, as here, as winking at…”

“Behold - I here present myself before the Lord, and before your king, ready to give an account of all my administrations. And this protestation Samuel makes of his integrity, not out of ostentation; but for his own just vindication, that the people might not hereafter for the defence of their own irregularities, reproach his government, and that being publickly acquitted from all faults in his government, he might more freely reprove the sins of the people, and, particularly, that sin of theirs in desiring a king, when they had so little reason for it. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 12:7”

“12:3 God’s anointed one was Saul (see 9:16). • Whose ox or donkey: Cp. Num 16:15. • have I stolen? In contrast to the behavior of kings (1 Sam 8:11-16). • Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? No, but Samuel’s sons did (8:3).”

“his anointed: Sa1 12:5, Sa1 10:1, Sa1 24:6; Sa2 1:14-16; Mat 22:21; Rom 13:1-7 whose ox: Num 16:15; Act 20:33; Co2 12:14; Th1 2:5, Th1 2:10; Pe1 5:2 bribe: Heb. ransom blind mine eyes: or, that I should hide mine eyes at him, Exo 23:8; Deu 16:19 I will: Exo 22:4; Lev 6:4; Luk 19:8 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 12:4”