Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 12

We left the general assembly of the states together, in the close of the foregoing chapter; in this chapter we have Samuel’s speech to them, when he resigned the government into the hands of Saul, in which, I. He clears himself from all suspicion or imputation of mismanagement, while the administration was in his hands, 1 Samuel 12:1-12:5. II. He reminds them of the great things God had done for them and for their fathers, 1 Samuel 12:6-12:13. III. He sets before them good and evil, the blessing and the curse, 1 Samuel 12:14, 12:15. IV. He awakens them to regard what he said to them, by calling to God for thunder, 1 Samuel 12:16-12:19. V. He encourages them with hopes that all should be well, 1 Samuel 12:20-12:25. This is his farewell sermon to that august assembly and Saul’s coronation sermon. MHBCC 249.1