Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:2
Verse 2. My sons are with you] It is generally agreed that these words intimate that Samuel had deprived them of their public employ, and reduced them to a level with the common people. Have walked before you from my childhood] He had been a long, steady, and immaculate servant of the public.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. And now, behold, the king walketh before you , etc.] He invested with his office, and in the exercise of it, and goes in and out as the captain, commander, and leader of the people; it is expressive of his being in the full possession of regal power and authority, and therefore Samuel might speak the more freely, as he could not be thought to have any hope and expectation of being reinstated in his government, or to have parted with it with any regret; and he wisely took this opportunity of reproving the people for their sin of desiring a king, when Saul was settled and established in his kingdom, and when they were in the midst of all their mirth and jollity, who might, from the success that had attended this first adventure of their king, conclude that they had done a right and good thing in requesting to have one: and I am old, and grey headed ; and so unfit for government, and very willing to be eased of the burden of it: he must surely be more than fifty two years of age, as the Jews generally say he was, since it is not usual at such an age to be grey headed, (see Gill on “ 1 Samuel 8:1”); however, on this account he merited reverence and respect, and demanded attention: and, behold, my sons are with you ; as private persons in the condition of subjects, making no pretension to government; and if they had committed anything criminal, they were open to the law, and might be charged, and tried, and treated according to their deserts; and there they were, and might be asked what questions they thought proper with respect to what they knew of his conduct; and to be hostages or bail for him, if they could prove anything against him; or to be taken to make satisfaction for any injuries committed by him: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day ; his manner of and conversation from his infancy to this time was well known to them, and he had spent all his days in the service of God, and for the good of Israel.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Samuel not only cleared his own character, but set an example befor Saul, while he showed the people their ingratitude to God and to himself. There is a just debt which all men to their own good name especially men in public stations, which is, to guard it against unjus blame and suspicions, that they may finish their course with honour, a well as with joy. And that we have in our places lived honestly, wil be our comfort, under any slights and contempt that may be put upon us.
Original Hebrew
ועתה 6258 הנה 2009 המלך 4428 מתהלך 1980 לפניכם 6440 ואני 589 זקנתי 2204 ושׂבתי 7867 ובני 1121 הנם 2009 אתכם 854 ואני 589 התהלכתי 1980 לפניכם 6440 מנערי 5271 עד 5704 היום 3117 הזה׃ 2088
