1 Samuel 12:17
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just point to their sin, but shows God's immediate, powerful response to it. Samuel calling on the LORD for thunder and rain during wheat harvest – a time when rain would be destructive, not helpful – starkly illustrates how out of sync their request for a king was with God's timing and good purposes for them. It's a powerful, almost ironic, divine "I told you so" that underscores the gravity of their decision.
Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Samuel is addressing the Israelites after they've demanded a king, a clear rejection of God's rule. He calls down thunder and rain during wheat harvest, a time when such weather would be disastrous, to demonstrate God's displeasure with their decision. This dramatic sign directly follows his recounting of God's faithfulness and precedes his call for them to return to God after their foolish request.
Samuel calls for thunder and rain during the wheat harvest. What's the big deal about wheat harvest, and why would God send a storm during it?
A Well-Timed Storm
The wheat harvest in Israel typically occurred in late spring, a time when the land was naturally dry. Rain during this period was not just unusual; it was disastrous for the crops. Samuel isn't just asking for a random weather event. He's calling down a specific, devastating sign that directly contradicts the prosperity Israel expected from their new king.
Why This Sign?
Israel asked for a king, thinking it would bring them security. But Samuel says this act was 'wickedness.' What made wanting a king so wrong?
The Heart of the Matter
Israel's request for a king wasn't just a political choice; it was a theological statement. They were essentially saying they no longer trusted God to rule and protect them. Samuel confronts them with the gravity of this rejection.
Ask a follow-up
Rejecting the Ultimate King
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
A generic term for moral wrongness, rebellion, or perversity that deviates from God’s standard of holiness. It denotes an active rejection of God’s law or will, requiring atonement or judgment.
This event occurred during the crucial wheat harvest, a time of great dependence on God's provision. Samuel uses this moment and a dramatic display of God's power to underscore the folly and danger of the people's demand for a king, which was a rejection of God's direct sovereignty over them.
c. 1020 BC
Israel Demands a King
The people of Israel, influenced by surrounding nations, demand a king despite God's established leadership through judges. This marks a significant turning point in their national identity and relationship with God.
c. 1020 BC
Saul Anointed King
Prophet Samuel reluctantly anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, fulfilling the people's demand but warning them of the consequences of rejecting God's direct rule.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Samuel's Farewell Address
As Samuel prepares to step down, he delivers a powerful speech to the Israelites, recounting God's faithfulness and the people's disobedience, particularly their recent demand for a king.
c. 1010 BC
God Sends Thunder and Rain
During the wheat harvest, Samuel calls on the LORD. God immediately sends thunder and rain, a dramatic display meant to convince the people of their sin and God's power.
This passage describes God sending thunder and rain during the plagues in Egypt, showing His power over the elements when His people are in distress or disobedience.
Psalm 99:7This psalm highlights God speaking in a pillar of cloud and thunder, connecting divine communication and judgment with stormy weather, much like Samuel does here.
Jeremiah 14:22The people cry out to God about their lack of rain, asking if the 'foreigners' (or idols) can provide it, which mirrors the Israelites' misplaced trust in asking for a king instead of trusting God's provision.
1 Kings 18:41-46This story shows Elijah praying for rain after a drought, demonstrating God's response to prayer and His power over weather, but in a context where people are turning back to Him, unlike the people in 1 Samuel 12.
The verse doesn't just point to their sin, but shows God's immediate, powerful response to it. Samuel calling on the LORD for thunder and rain during wheat harvest – a time when rain would be destructive, not helpful – starkly illustrates how out of sync their request for a king was with God's timing and good purposes for them. It's a powerful, almost ironic, divine "I told you so" that underscores the gravity of their decision.
Samuel is addressing the Israelites after they've demanded a king, a clear rejection of God's rule. He calls down thunder and rain during wheat harvest, a time when such weather would be disastrous, to demonstrate God's displeasure with their decision. This dramatic sign directly follows his recounting of God's faithfulness and precedes his call for them to return to God after their foolish request.
Samuel is addressing the Israelites after they've demanded a king, a clear rejection of God's rule. He calls down thunder and rain during wheat harvest, a time when such weather would be disastrous, to demonstrate God's displeasure with their decision. This dramatic sign directly follows his recounting of God's faithfulness and precedes his call for them to return to God after their foolish request.
"Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king.”" — The verse doesn't just point to their sin, but shows God's immediate, powerful response to it. Samuel calling on the LORD for thunder and rain during wheat harvest – a time when rain would be destruc…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
