1 Samuel 10:19
And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Original Language Analysis
הַיּ֜וֹם
And ye have this day
H3117
הַיּ֜וֹם
And ye have this day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
2 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם
your God
H430
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם
your God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
5 of 24
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
ה֣וּא
H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
7 of 24
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ
who himself saved
H3467
מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ
who himself saved
Strong's:
H3467
Word #:
8 of 24
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
מִכָּל
H3605
מִכָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
רָעֽוֹתֵיכֶ֣ם
you out of all your adversities
H7451
רָעֽוֹתֵיכֶ֣ם
you out of all your adversities
Strong's:
H7451
Word #:
11 of 24
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
15 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תָּשִׂ֣ים
unto him Nay but set
H7760
תָּשִׂ֣ים
unto him Nay but set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
17 of 24
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עָלֵ֑ינוּ
H5921
עָלֵ֑ינוּ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
18 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַתָּ֗ה
H6258
הִֽתְיַצְּבוּ֙
over us Now therefore present
H3320
הִֽתְיַצְּבוּ֙
over us Now therefore present
Strong's:
H3320
Word #:
20 of 24
to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue
לִפְנֵ֣י
yourselves before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
yourselves before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
21 of 24
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
22 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
1 Samuel 12:12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.Joshua 24:1And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.1 Samuel 8:19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
Historical Context
Israel's tribal and military organization dated from the wilderness period when Moses structured the nation for both encampment and warfare. The 'thousands' (alaphim) were military-administrative units, typically extended families or clans capable of fielding fighting forces.
Questions for Reflection
- How might we 'reject' God while pursuing things He actually permits?
- What does God's willingness to work through Israel's sinful request teach about His grace?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Samuel's prophetic indictment is severe: requesting a king constituted rejecting God (ma'as, a strong term implying spurning or despising). The emphatic 'who himself' (hu asher) stresses God's personal agency in their deliverance - not distant providence but direct intervention. Their response to such salvation was 'Nay' (lo'), a flat contradiction. The word for 'adversities' (ra'ot) and 'tribulations' (tsarot) encompasses the full range of distresses God had resolved. Yet despite this indictment, God proceeds with the selection - demonstrating how He works even through sinful human choices. The command to 'present yourselves' (hityatsvu) by tribes and thousands (military units of 1,000) follows the organizational structure of the wilderness generation, connecting this moment to covenantal assembly patterns. God's anger does not prevent His gracious accommodation to human weakness.