1 Samuel 11 12

1 Samuel 11:12 kjv

And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

1 Samuel 11:12 nkjv

Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is he who said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death."

1 Samuel 11:12 niv

The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death."

1 Samuel 11:12 esv

Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death."

1 Samuel 11:12 nlt

Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, "Now where are those men who said, 'Why should Saul rule over us?' Bring them here, and we will kill them!"

1 Samuel 11 verses

1 Samuel 11 12 Meaning

This verse captures the dramatic shift in public opinion following Saul's decisive military victory over the Ammonites. The very people who had questioned Saul's legitimacy as king now clamor for the identification and execution of those who previously scorned him, demonstrating an immediate and fervent desire to vindicate his leadership and eliminate any lingering dissent. It reveals the fleeting nature of human sentiment and the power of success to turn public disdain into zealous support and a demand for retribution.

1 Samuel 11 12 Context

This verse is situated immediately after Saul's overwhelming and decisive military victory over Nahash the Ammonite at Jabesh-Gilead (1 Sam 11:1-11). This victory marked a significant turning point, where Saul, who had been met with skepticism and even contempt by some Israelites (referred to as "worthless fellows" in 1 Sam 10:27), suddenly found himself unanimously affirmed as king. The people's demand to execute his former detractors showcases a complete reversal of popular opinion. It also sets the stage for Saul's critical initial test of leadership: how he would respond to the intense pressure from a newly unified and zealous populace seeking retribution for past insults to his nascent reign.

1 Samuel 11 12 Word analysis

• And the people said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעָם - vayyomru ha'am): The word Am (עם) refers to the collective congregation of Israel. The sudden, unified voice of the Am highlights the profound impact of Saul's victory. Amar (אמר - to say, declare) denotes a firm declaration, not merely a casual comment.
• to Samuel (אֶל-שְׁמוּאֵל - el Shemu'el): The address to Samuel underscores his continued moral and spiritual authority in Israel, even with a king on the throne. The people still look to him for endorsement and facilitation of their collective will, particularly on matters of justice.
• "Who is he that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?'" (מִי הַמְדַבֵּר הַמֶּלֶךְ יִמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ שָׁאוּל - mi hamdaber ha'melekh yimloch `alenu Sha'ul): This is a rhetorical question, not born of ignorance, but of righteous indignation. Midaber (מדבר - one who speaks, usually publically) refers directly to the previous "worthless fellows" (1 Sam 10:27) who had voiced explicit contempt. The question is a public challenge demanding identification for punishment, reflecting their newfound zeal for Saul. The specific phrase "Shall Saul reign over us?" is an exact recall of the earlier objection, showing how deeply those words resonated and how fiercely they now wished to reverse their implications.
• Bring the men (הָבִיאוּ אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים - havi'u et-ha'anashim): A strong imperative (Havi'u - הביאו, imperative of Bo, to come/bring in Hifil), indicating an urgent, forceful demand from the crowd. "Ha'anashim" (האנשים - the men) refers specifically to the known opponents of 1 Sam 10:27, not just anyone. This command signals their desire to enact justice immediately.
• that we may put them to death (וְנְמִתֵם - ve-nemitem): This shocking and extreme demand, using the Hifil form of Mut (מות - to die), meaning "to cause to die" or "execute," reveals the violent intensity of the people's collective fervor. It underscores a vengeful mob mentality, aiming for absolute and fatal retribution for what they now perceived as high treason against God's anointed and their triumphant king.

1 Samuel 11 12 Bonus section

• The ferocity of the people's demand highlights their insecurity and internal division prior to Saul's victory. Their unified voice and demand for execution reflect a collective attempt to overcome their own shame at having doubted their anointed king.
• The fact that they make this demand to Samuel rather than directly to Saul shows Samuel's continued patriarchal role as the one who established the kingship and mediates between God and the people, even in the era of a king.
• This intense desire for retribution serves as Saul's first major ethical test of kingship, directly preceding his pivotal decision to extend grace (1 Sam 11:13). It allows his merciful response to shine brightly by contrasting it with the bloodthirsty demands of his newly emboldened subjects.

1 Samuel 11 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 11:12 portrays a stark and immediate shift in Israel's popular sentiment, a common theme observed in human history. Following Saul's decisive military triumph, the initial skepticism and open contempt some held for his kingship rapidly transform into zealous loyalty. This shift manifests as a passionate demand for swift, ultimate retribution against those who dared to question him. The call for their death demonstrates the fickle yet powerful nature of public opinion and the potent human tendency to move from rejection to adulation, often culminating in a desire to utterly eradicate any memory of past dissent. This volatile reaction places Saul, the newly confirmed king, in a critical ethical position, setting the stage for his crucial demonstration of leadership in the subsequent verse, where he chooses mercy over vengeance. The passage illustrates how a divinely enabled victory can elicit an overwhelmingly human, often misguided, response that seeks vengeance rather than principled action.