SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:17
¿No es ahora la siega de los trigos? Yo clamaré al SEÑOR, y él dará truenos y aguas; para que conozcáis y veáis que es grande vuestra maldad que habéis hecho en los ojos del SEÑOR, pidiéndoos rey.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:17
Verse 17. Is it not wheat harvest to-day?] That is, This is the time of wheat harvest. According to St. Jerome, who spent several years in the promised land, this harvest commenced about the end of June or beginning of July, in which he says he never saw rain in Judea: Nunquam enim in fine mensis Junii, sive in mense Julio, in his provinciis, maximeque in Judea, pluvias vidimus. - HIER. in Amos iv. 7; where he refers to this very history. What occurred now hardly ever occurs there but in the winter months.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Is it not wheat harvest today ? etc.] Of the time of wheat harvest, (see Gill on “ 1 Samuel 6:13”). Rain usually fell in Judea only twice a year, called the former and the latter rain; and from the seventeenth of Nisan or March, to the sixteenth of Marchesvan or October, it was not usual for rain to fall, and so not in harvest, at that time especially, (see Proverbs 26:1 Amos 4:7). R. Joseph Kimchi says, in the land of Israel rain never fell all the days of harvest; and this is confirmed by Jerom, who lived long in those parts; who says f235 , at the end of the month of June, and in the month of July, we never saw rain in those provinces, especially in Judea. And Samuel not only by putting this question would have them observe that it was the time of wheat harvest in general, but on that day in particular the men, were at work in the fields reaping the wheat, etc. and so was not cloudy, and inclining to rain, but all serene and clear, or otherwise they would not have been employed in cutting down the corn; all which made the following case the more remarkable: I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain ; in a miraculous and preternatural way, there being nothing in nature preparatory thereunto, and this purely at the prayer of Samuel: that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king ; was attended with aggravated circumstances, and highly offensive to God, though he had gratified them in it, of which this violent storm would be an indication, and might serve to convince them of their folly, as well as of their wickedness, and that they had no need of a king, since Samuel their judge could do as much or more by his prayers than a king could do by his sword; and of which they had had sufficient proof before this, and that in the same way, ( 1 Samuel 7:10).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-25 - At Samuel's word, God sent thunder and rain, at a season of the yea when, in that country, the like was not seen. This was to convince the they had done wickedly in asking a king; not only by its coming at a unusual time, in wheat harvest, and on a clear day, but by the prophet's giving notice of it before. He showed their folly in desirin a king to save them, rather than God, or Samuel; promising themselve more from an arm of flesh, than from the arm of God, or from the powe of prayer. Could their prince command such forces as the prophet coul do by his prayers? It startled them very much. Some will not be brough to see their sins by any gentler methods than storms and thunders. The entreat Samuel to pray for them. Now they see their need of him who shortly before they slighted. Thus many who will not have Christ to reign over them, would yet be glad to have him intercede for them, to turn away the wrath of God. Samuel aims to confirm the people in their religion. Whatever we make a god of, we shall find it deceive us Creatures in their own places are good; but when put in God's place they are vain things. We sin if we restrain prayer, and in particula if we cease praying for the church. They only asked him to pray for them; but he promises to do more, to teach them. He urges that the were bound in gratitude to serve God, considering what great things he had done for them; and that they were bound in interest to serve him considering what he would do against them, if they should still d wickedly. Thus, as a faithful watchman, he gave them warning, and s delivered his own soul. If we consider what great things the Lord hat done for us, especially in the great work of redemption, we can neithe want motive, encouragement, nor assistance in serving him __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
הלוא 3808 קציר 7105 חטים 2406 היום 3117 אקרא 7121 אל 413 יהוה 3068 ויתן 5414 קלות 6963 ומטר 4306 ודעו 3045 וראו 7200 כי 3588 רעתכם 7451 רבה 7227 אשׁר 834 עשׂיתם 6213 בעיני 5869 יהוה 3068 לשׁאול 7592 לכם מלך׃ 4428
