1 Samuel 12 8

1 Samuel 12:8 kjv

When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

1 Samuel 12:8 nkjv

When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.

1 Samuel 12:8 niv

"After Jacob entered Egypt, they cried to the LORD for help, and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

1 Samuel 12:8 esv

When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.

1 Samuel 12:8 nlt

"When the Israelites were in Egypt and cried out to the LORD, he sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land.

1 Samuel 12 verses

1 Samuel 12 8 Meaning

1 Samuel 12:8 serves as part of Samuel's farewell address, reminding Israel of God's consistent faithfulness throughout their history. It specifically recounts God's initial deliverance of their ancestors from the oppression in Egypt, initiated when Jacob's family first entered the land. The verse highlights a recurring divine pattern: Israel's distress and cry for help led to God sending deliverers (Moses and Aaron) to lead them out of bondage and establish them in the promised land.

1 Samuel 12 8 Context

1 Samuel 12 is Samuel's impassioned farewell speech to Israel. Having judged them faithfully for many years, he now stands before them as they insist on having a human king, like other nations. This speech serves several purposes: Samuel defends his integrity as a leader (v. 1-5), he reminds them of God's faithful interventions throughout their history (v. 6-12), he warns them about the consequences of their request (v. 13-19), and he encourages them to serve the Lord faithfully (v. 20-25).

Verse 8 falls within the historical recounting (v. 6-12). Samuel presents a series of cycles: God delivering Israel, Israel forgetting God, Israel crying out in distress, God raising up a deliverer, and then deliverance again. By reciting this history, beginning with their ancestors entering Egypt, Samuel aims to highlight God's consistent, covenantal faithfulness despite Israel's frequent turning away. The mention of Jacob entering Egypt establishes the vulnerable beginning of their nation before God's mighty acts of deliverance, reinforcing the theme of divine grace preceding any human effort. This history serves as a poignant reminder that God has always been their true king and provider, making their demand for a human king a deep rejection of His leadership.

1 Samuel 12 8 Word analysis

• When Jacob had entered into Egypt:
  • Jacob: Ya'aqov (Hebrew). Refers to the patriarch Israel, whose descendants formed the nation. His entering Egypt (Gen 46) marked the beginning of Israel's sojourn and eventual enslavement. This highlights God's providence even in setting the stage for later oppression and miraculous deliverance.
  • entered into Egypt: Indicates the initial, seemingly mundane, act that preceded generations of suffering and divine intervention. It underscores God's long-term plan from a seemingly simple migration.
• and your fathers cried unto the Lord:
  • your fathers: Connects the present generation hearing Samuel's speech directly to their historical ancestors, emphasizing a shared national identity and spiritual heritage.
  • cried: Za'aq (Hebrew). Implies an urgent, desperate, even piercing cry for help, a common expression of distress to God. It indicates a turning point where human suffering prompted divine attention. This highlights the importance of petition and humility in prayer. (Exod 2:23-24).
  • unto the Lord: Explicitly identifies the recipient of their plea as Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This signifies that their cry was specifically to their divine Protector and Deliverer.
• then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron:
  • then: Indicates a direct divine response and timing following Israel's cry. God initiates the solution.
  • the Lord sent: Wayyishlah Yahweh (Hebrew). Emphasizes God's active, deliberate commission and choice of deliverers. It's a divine appointment, not a human self-selection, asserting God's sovereignty over leadership. (Exod 3:10)
  • Moses and Aaron: God's chosen instruments. Moses as the prophet-leader and Aaron as the priest-speaker, demonstrating God's multi-faceted provision. They were agents of God's power, not the source of it.
• which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt:
  • brought forth: Wayyotzi'u (Hebrew). Denotes a powerful act of deliverance, extraction, or liberation. It refers directly to the Exodus, the defining salvific event in Israel's history.
  • out of Egypt: Specifies the location of their bondage and the source of their suffering, from which God miraculously freed them. It underscores the complete reversal of their circumstances.
• and made them dwell in this place:
  • made them dwell: Wayyashibum (Hebrew). Implies settlement, establishment, and receiving rest or security in a place. It signifies the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant regarding the land.
  • in this place: Refers to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, where Israel was currently living. It grounds the historical account in their present reality, demonstrating God's faithful completion of His promises despite Israel's historical unfaithfulness.

Words-group analysis:

• "Jacob had entered into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord": Establishes the cause-and-effect of God's intervention – suffering leads to desperate prayer, which then elicits divine response. It connects the deep historical roots of Israel's nationhood to the present generation's dependence on God.
• "the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place": This clause outlines the complete redemptive journey initiated by God: from sending His chosen agents, to powerful liberation from bondage, and finally, secure establishment in the promised inheritance. It shows the full scope of God's commitment to His covenant people.

1 Samuel 12 8 Bonus section

Samuel's rhetorical strategy in 1 Samuel 12 is powerful. He is employing what biblical scholars term a "covenant lawsuit" or "Rib-motif," where God, through His prophet, brings charges against His people for violating their covenant relationship. The historical recital, culminating in verse 8 and onward, is central to this: Samuel establishes God's unfailing record of deliverance, thus demonstrating Israel's utter lack of excuse for their present rebellion or mistrust. The Exodus, prominently featured here, is not just one event among many, but the foundational event defining Israel's relationship with Yahweh. It became the prototype for future redemptive acts. Samuel emphasizes that God always provided precisely what they needed, not what they might have demanded, often through unlikely means (Moses and Aaron as opposed to a mighty warrior king from the start). The inclusion of Jacob's entry into Egypt underscores that God's plan encompassed even periods of initial vulnerability, demonstrating His long-term commitment and sovereign oversight from their earliest national stirrings.

1 Samuel 12 8 Commentary

Samuel's reminder in 1 Samuel 12:8 is profoundly theological. It presents a divine blueprint of interaction between God and Israel, showcasing God's consistent character as the Faithful Deliverer. This specific verse recalls the genesis of Israel as a distinct people after Jacob entered Egypt, through their enslavement and subsequent desperate cry to the Lord. Samuel underscores that God did not forsake them but acted decisively, sending the divinely commissioned Moses and Aaron. Their work was not merely to exit Egypt, but to lead the people to inhabit the promised land, completing God's covenantal pledge.

This historical survey serves as a stark contrast to Israel's current desire for a king. By reciting how God himself raised deliverers when Israel cried out in genuine distress, Samuel subtly critiques their lack of trust and their pursuit of a human monarch rather than relying on their ever-faithful Divine King. The pattern of God hearing their cries and sending specific individuals (Moses, Aaron, then later the Judges mentioned in subsequent verses) is fundamental to Israel's national identity. This verse is not just a historical note, but a theological lesson on God's sovereignty, Israel's dependency, and the power of corporate lament and prayer.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • When feeling overwhelmed, remember past instances of God's faithfulness in your life or in biblical accounts, much like Samuel reminded Israel.
  • In distress, actively cry out to the Lord, trusting that He hears and responds according to His perfect will, just as He heard their fathers.