Bible Strands
1 Samuel 12:9
But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samuel addresses the assembled tribes of Israel, reviewing their history of rebellion and deliverance immediately before they confess their idolatry in the following verse.
The words — יְהוָה (Yahweh) identifies the covenant God who initiates judgment, while וַ/יִּמְכֹּ֣ר (va/i.yim.Kor) literally means "and he sold," describing God's judicial surrender of the people to hostile rulers.
The thread — This pattern of divine surrender to foreign powers recurs in Judges 3:12, Judges 4:2, and Judges 10:7, where Israel's apostasy triggers the same judicial consequence.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that covenant abandonment produces tangible defeat, requiring the reader to prioritize remembrance of God over self-reliance before seeking rescue.
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
King James Version
And when they forgat the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
Cross-references
- Judges 3:12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
- Judges 4:2 So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.
- Judges 10:7 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites,
- Judges 13:1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
- Deuteronomy 32:18 You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
- Deuteronomy 32:30 How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
- Judges 2:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
- 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 3:31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.
- Psalms 106:21 They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,