Definition: And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 12:12. It's a really important and powerful passage about forgiveness and loyalty. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Situation: Nahash the King is Angry: The verse starts with a very difficult situation – Nahash, the king of Ammon, was attacking Israel. He was a bitter and vengeful ruler who wanted to harm us. You Reacted Strongly: You, as leaders of Israel, were incredibly upset and angry at this attack. You felt like we needed to defend ourselves. What the Verse Says - A Plea for Peace: “And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you…” – This means you witnessed this attack firsthand. “…ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king.” - This is the key part. You were saying no . You were refusing to let Nahash rule over us. You weren’t willing to accept his vengeful demands. What it Means – A Powerful Message: It's About Loyalty & Obedience: The verse really highlights the importance of loyalty and obedience to God. It was a crucial moment where you recognized that you were God’s chosen people, and you needed to be guided by His will. God is Our King: The phrase "when the LORD your God [was] your king" means that God was in control of our lives and destiny. He was the ultimate authority and ruler. It wasn't about us having any power over each other, but rather about allowing God to rule over everything. In essence, this verse is a statement of faith – a declaration that we are blessed to be ruled by God, and we will honor His leadership. --- Does that make sense? Would you like me to: Explain any part in more detail? Give you some context about the story of Nahash's attack?