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1 Samuel 12:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 12:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he said unto them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he said unto them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness.
1 Samuel 12:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And 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 youth unto this day.
3Here I am: witness against me before Jehovah, 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 taken a ransom to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
4And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man`s hand.
5And he said unto them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness.
6And Samuel said unto the people, It is Jehovah that 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 Jehovah concerning all the righteous acts of Jehovah, which he did to you and to your fathers.
8When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto Jehovah, then Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.
← 1 Samuel 12:41 Samuel 12:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he said unto them, the Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, etc.] Should they hereafter reproach and vilify him, and charge him with any acts of corruption, injustice, and violence: that ye have not found ought in my hand; that they had nothing to accuse him of and charge him with throughout his whole administration, but had asserted his innocence and integrity, had honourably acquitted him, and given him a fair character: and they answered, he is witness; the omniscient God is a witness against us, should we depart from this testimony, and Saul, the Lord’s anointed, is a witness that we have fully cleared thee from any imputations of maladministration. The…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness--that, by their own acknowledgment, he had given them no cause to weary of the divine government by judges, and that, therefore, the blame of desiring a change of government rested with themselves. This was only insinuated, and they did not fully perceive his drift.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:5 my hands are clean: Samuel’s life and leadership before Israel had been above reproach (cp. 1 Cor 9:1-14; 2 Cor 7:2; 11:7-9; 1 Thes 2:1-12). Saul, David, and Solomon—kings rather than prophetic judges—would not be able to make this claim.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The Lord: Job 31:35-40, Job 42:7 his anointed: Sa1 26:9 ye have: Joh 18:38; Act 23:9, Act 24:16, Act 24:20; Co1 4:4; Co2 1:12 in my hand: Exo 22:4; Psa 17:3 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 12:6”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 12 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification