Farewell to the Judges

Saul’s formal investiture as Israel’s king marks the beginning of the nation’s monarchy. As such, it also marks the end of the period during which Israel has been led by judges. Therefore, it is appropriate that, with the entire nation gathered to crown its king, the final judge—Samuel—should speak. His words to Israel on this great occasion constitute chapter 12 of 1 Samuel. In this great discourse, Samuel basically resigns his duties as judge to die new monarch. But he retains his role as God’s prophet, and he here delivers a classic prophetic judgment speech, powerfully reminding the people of the gracious covenant God has made with them and clearly demonstrating their guilt in asking for a human king.

Samuel begins by noting the historic change that has occurred. In response to the people’s request, he has steered the nation through the process of discovering God’s king. Now that king is enthroned. But Samuel is old, so old that his sons are grown men in their own right, and he has served Israel from his earliest childhood. His ministry has been long, but has it been unfruitful? He invites the people to answer and to defend their rejection of him. ” ‘Here I am,’ ” he declares. It is as if he is saying, “Let me have it—show me my errors!” But he is quick to remind the people that they are assembled in the presence of God and of God’s anointed, and no one should insult them by speaking untruths. He then proceeds to prompt his hearers by asking them whose property he has taken, whom he has cheated or oppressed, or when he has accepted bribes. If it can be shown that he has committed any of these wrongs, he promises to make restitution. But the people are forced to acknowledge that he is blameless in these things. Samuel then calls Saul and God Himself as witnesses that the people have found him guilty of no crime, and they freely agree.

Why does Samuel engage in this seemingly self-vindicating exercise? Matthew Henry writes that he does it “to convince them of the injury they had done him in setting him aside, when they had nothing amiss to charge him with…. He designed, in the close of this discourse, to reprove the people, and therefore he begins with a vindication of himself; for he that will, with confidence, tell another of his sin must see to it that he himself be clear.”