Definition: And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 12:19. It's a really important and complex passage about David’s relationship with God. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is about David feeling incredibly guilty and worried about his friends’ well-being. He’s realizing he’s made a terrible mistake – he’s been asking for a king, which is basically a ruler without the laws of God. Let's unpack it word by word: “And all the people said unto Samuel…” : This sets up a scene where David is speaking to his father, Samuel, who is observing him. “…Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.” This is the core of the verse. Let’s break it down further: “Pray for thy servants…” : David is pleading with God to help his friends – specifically, his servants – who are in trouble. “…unto the LORD thy God…” : He's asking for God's help and protection. He wants a blessing from God. “…that we die not…” : This is the main point - he’s worried about his friends’ lives. He’s praying that they don’t die. “for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.” : This is where it gets tricky and symbolic. “This evil” refers to the act of asking for a king. It means he's been turning away from God’s rules and being selfish. He’s adding this bad thing to his existing sins – essentially, making them worse. What does it mean? The verse speaks to David’s pride and rebellion against God. He was so focused on getting recognition and power that he started prioritizing his own desires over following God's commands. He was asking for a king, which is a very dangerous thing because it shows a disregard for the divine authority. It highlights a significant fall from grace – a turning away from righteousness. Why is this important? This verse is a key moment in the story of David and his relationship with God. It’s a reminder that true leadership and even personal choices should always be guided by obedience and respect for God's will. It shows how easily pride can lead to disobedience and potentially disastrous consequences. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail, perhaps focusing on a specific aspect (like the symbolism)? Give you a parallel example from another Bible passage? Answer any specific questions you have about this verse?