1 Samuel 12:10
And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ
And they cried
H2199
וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ
And they cried
Strong's:
H2199
Word #:
1 of 19
to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
חָטָ֔אנוּ
We have sinned
H2398
חָטָ֔אנוּ
We have sinned
Strong's:
H2398
Word #:
5 of 19
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
6 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עָזַ֙בְנוּ֙
because we have forsaken
H5800
עָזַ֙בְנוּ֙
because we have forsaken
Strong's:
H5800
Word #:
7 of 19
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְנַֽעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃
and have served
H5647
וְנַֽעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃
and have served
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
10 of 19
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
11 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת
and Ashtaroth
H6252
הָֽעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת
and Ashtaroth
Strong's:
H6252
Word #:
14 of 19
ashtaroth, the name of a sidonian deity, and of a place east of the jordan
וְעַתָּ֗ה
H6258
הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ
but now deliver
H5337
הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ
but now deliver
Strong's:
H5337
Word #:
16 of 19
to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
מִיַּ֥ד
us out of the hand
H3027
מִיַּ֥ד
us out of the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
17 of 19
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
Cross References
Judges 10:10And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.Judges 2:13And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.Judges 3:7And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.Judges 3:9And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
Historical Context
Baalim (plural of Baal) and Ashtaroth (plural of Ashtoreth/Astarte) were Canaanite fertility deities. Worship of these gods involved sacred prostitution and sometimes child sacrifice. Israel's repeated syncretism reflected agricultural anxieties and desire to ensure crop fertility through pagan rituals.
Questions for Reflection
- Does your repentance include specific confession and commitment to changed behavior?
- How does genuine repentance differ from simply wanting relief from consequences?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
The confession Samuel recalls - 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth' - represents the proper response to divine discipline. The acknowledgment of specific sins (forsaking Yahweh, serving Canaanite fertility deities) demonstrated genuine repentance. Their plea 'deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee' shows understanding that deliverance obligates covenant loyalty. This pattern of confession and deliverance should have guided Israel's current crisis.