SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:3
Aquí estoy; atestiguad contra mí delante del SEÑOR y delante de su ungido, si he tomado el buey de alguno, o si he tomado el asno de alguno, o si he calumniado a alguien, o si he agraviado a alguno, o si de alguien he tomado cohecho por el cual haya cubierto mis ojos; y os satisfaré.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 12:3
Verse 3. Witness against me] Did ever a minister of state, in any part of the world, resign his office with so much self- consciousness of integrity, backed with the universal approbation of the public? No man was oppressed under his government, no man defrauded! He had accumulated no riches for himself; he had procured none for his friends; nor had one needy dependant been provided for out of the public purse. He might have pardoned his own sons, who had acted improperly, before he quitted the government; but though he was the most tender of parents, he would not, but abandoned them to national justice, with only a tacit solicitation of mercy: Behold, my sons are with you! They have acted improperly; I deprived them of their authority; they are amenable to you for their past conduct; I have walked uprightly and disinterestedly among you; they have not followed my steps: but can you forgive them for their father's sake? As a minister of justice, he abandons them to their fate; as a tender father, he indirectly and modestly pleads for them on the ground of his own services. Had he not acted thus in both these relations, he would have been unworthy of that character which he so deservedly bears.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. Behold, here I am , etc.] No longer the supreme governor, but a subject, and accountable for any misdemeanour charged upon me, and to which I am ready to give answer, being now at your bar to be tried and judged before you: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed ; signifying, that if they had anything to lay to his charge, that they would produce it, and give proof and evidence of it in the presence of God, in whose name they met, and of Saul, anointed king, and supreme judge and ruler of the nation: whose ox have I taken ? by force to employ in his own service in ploughing his ground, or treading out his corn: or whose ass have I taken ? to ride about on in his circuit, or to carry any burden for him: or whom have I defrauded ? of their money or goods, by any artifice circumventing and cheating them: whom have I oppressed ? struck, beaten, broken, or caused to be so used wrongfully; to whose person have I been injurious any more than to their property? Some derive the word from a root which signifies favour and goodwill, and interpret it as some of the Rabbins do, of his not taking money of persons with their goodwill; or rather, that he had done nothing as a judge for favour and affection, but had acted the upright part, without regard to rich or poor, friends or foes: or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith ? his meaning is, that he had never taken a gift or present from any person to favour his cause, that was to be brought before him, and give it for him right or wrong; to connive at any injury he had done, or to turn away his eyes from seeing where the justice of the cause lay; or that he had not received money to spare the life of a criminal that deserved to die; for the word used for a bribe signifies a ransom price, (see Deuteronomy 16:19) and I will restore it to you ; the ox or ass, money or goods, gifts and presents, or bribes taken, or make compensation for any injury done to the persons or estates of men. Some render it, “I will answer you” f227 , or give in an answer to any such charges when exhibited.
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
הנני 2005 ענו 6030 בי נגד 5048 יהוה 3068 ונגד 5048 משׁיחו 4899 את 853 שׁור 7794 מי 4310 לקחתי 3947 וחמור 2543 מי 4310 לקחתי 3947 ואת 853 מי 4310 עשׁקתי 6231 את 853 מי 4310 רצותי 7533 ומיד 3027 מי 4310 לקחתי 3947 כפר 3724 ואעלים 5956 עיני 5869 בו ואשׁיב׃ 7725
