Translations
Modern
Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And he said to them, “YHWH is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And he said, “Witness.”
Latin
Dixitque ad eos: Testis est Dominus adversum vos, et testis christus ejus in die hac, quia non inveneritis in manu mea quippiam. Et dixerunt: Testis.
Original
Hebrew
English
Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.
Notes
you have not found anything in my hand: Samuel's life and leadership in Israel were beyond criticism (see 1 Corinthians 9:1–14; 2 Corinthians 7:2; 11:7–9; 1 Thessalonians 2:1–12). Saul, David, and Solomon, who were kings instead of prophetic judges, could not make this claim.
The confirmation of Saul as king at Gilgal was the last step in making him king (1 Samuel 11:12–15). It was also a suitable time for Samuel to give his farewell speech as Israel's leader.
Theme notes and profiles
Events
Glossary
Anoint Bethel (Place), Bethelite Samuel, Books of First and Second