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.

Here, I. Samuel gives them a short account of the late revolution, and of the present posture of their government, by way of preface to what he had further to say to them, 1 Sam. 12:1–2. 1.

Samuel, having sufficiently secured his own reputation, instead of upbraiding the people upon it with their unkindness to him, sets himself to instruct them, and keep them in the way of their duty, and then the change of the government would be the less damage to them. I.

Two things Samuel here aims at:— I. To convince the people of their sin in desiring a king. They were now rejoicing before God in and with their king , and offering to God the sacrifices of praise, which they hoped God would accept; and this perhaps made them think that there was no harm in their…