1 Samuel 12 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the story of King Saul by telling how Samuel addressed the assembled Israelites at Gilgal to talk about the kingship with them. Samuel told them that even though they should not have asked for a king for the reasons they did, Yahweh had nevertheless given them a king, and Yahweh would bless them and their king if they were devoted and obedient to him.This chapter serves as a type of farewell address. In this culture, leaders gave instructions to their followers before they left or died. Joshua does something similar in [Joshua 23](../../jos/23/01.md) and 24, using similar language. If you have already translated the book of Joshua, see how you translated his farewell address, and translate Samuel’s address here similarly.