Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
1 SAMUEL 12:13KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 12:13 mean?
1 Samuel 12:13 marks a turning point for Israel: the people now have the king they asked for, and the LORD has placed him over them. Samuel presents Saul’s rule as both the result of the people’s request and something the LORD has brought about.
Samuel is addressing the people of Israel as Saul stands as their king. His repeated “behold” calls their attention to the reality before them, following their demand for a king in verse 12.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 12:13
- “desired” — שָׁאַל (shaʾal): This word can mean “asked for” or “requested.” It points to the people’s spoken request for a king, not simply to a private wish.
- “set” — נָתַן (natan): This word often means “gave.” Here the LORD is described as giving the people a king over them.
Why 1 Samuel 12:13 matters
- The verse keeps the people’s role and the LORD’s role together. Samuel says the people “have chosen” and “have desired” the king, while the LORD “hath set a king over you.”
- Saul’s presence makes the choice a present fact, not merely a proposal. Samuel’s “behold” directs the people to look at the king they now have.
- Having a king does not end Samuel’s address to the people. In the following verses, Samuel speaks about how both the king and the people respond to the LORD.