1 Samuel 12:3
Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
Study Note
Study Note
Samuel's farewell speech includes this remarkable self-justification in which he invites the entire assembly to serve as witnesses against him before YHWH and the newly anointed king — a juridical formula that underscores the public and covenantal nature of prophetic leadership. The series of rhetorical questions — whose ox? whose ass? whom defrauded? whom oppressed? what bribe? — constitutes a negative inventory of the corrupt practices that would later characterize monarchy itself (1 Samuel 8:11–18). Samuel's clean record stands as an implicit critique of the institution the people have demanded and an implicit standard for the king they are receiving. The passage is significant for biblical ethics of leadership accountability and the prophetic tradition's insistence on integrity over status.
Other Translations
Here I am: witness against me before Jehovah, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
`Lo, here <FI>am<Fi> I; testify against me, over-against Jehovah, and over-against His anointed; whose ox have I taken, and whose ass have I taken, and whom have I oppressed; whom have I bruised, and of whose hand have I taken a ransom, and hide mine eyes with it? --and I restore to you.'
Here I am: give witness against me before the Lord and before the man on whom he has put the holy oil: whose ox or ass have I taken? to whom have I been untrue? who has been crushed down by me? from whose hand have I taken a price for the blinding of my eyes? I will give it all back to you.
Cross References
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for …
They say unto him, Cesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and …
And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; …
I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s …
And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye …
Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it …
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for …