1 Samuel 12:10

Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Israelites speak to the LORD through Samuel during a national crisis after repeatedly abandoning Yahweh and inviting foreign oppression. They confess their idolatry and beg for rescue so they can resume exclusive worship.

The words — The Hebrew חָטָאנוּ (cha.Ta.nu) means "we have sinned," while עָזַבְנוּ ('a.Zav.nu) translates to "we have forsaken," directly naming the two covenant violations that triggered their current distress.

The thread — This confession mirrors the cycle recorded in Judges 10:10 and reflects the recurring apostasy pattern noted in Judges 2:13, where Israel repeatedly traded Yahweh for Canaanite deities.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that idolatry breaks covenant loyalty and brings oppression, while the plea for deliverance assumes rescue is granted solely to restore faithful worship.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּva/i.yiz.'a.Kuand/ they cried out אֶל־'el-to יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh וַיֹּאמְר֣וּva/i.yo.merand/ they said חָטָ֔אנוּcha.Ta.nuwe have sinned כִּ֤יkifor עָזַ֙בְנוּ֙'a.Zav.nuwe have forsaken אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וַנַּעֲבֹ֥דva./na.'a.Vodand/ we have served אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַבְּעָלִ֖יםha./be.'a.Limthe/ Baals וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הָעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹתha./'ash.ta.Rotthe/ Ashtaroth וְעַתָּ֗הve./'a.Tahand/ now הַצִּילֵ֛נוּha.tzi.Le./nudeliver/ us מִיַּ֥דmi./Yadfrom/ [the] hand of אֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ'o.ye.Vei./nuenemies/ our וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃ve./na.'av.De./kaso/ we may serve/ you

King James Version

And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

Cross-references

Judges 2:13 for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
Judges 10:10 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.”
Judges 3:7 So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.
Judges 3:9 But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them.
Judges 10:15 “We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”
Judges 3:15 And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
Judges 4:3 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
Judges 6:7 Now when the Israelites cried out to the LORD because of Midian,
1 Samuel 7:2 And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.
Psalms 78:34 When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God.