Why did he say "Zakanti va'Savti"?
Rashi citing Ta'anis 5b: Old age sprang upon me.
Radak: Seivah is older than Ziknah. 1
Why did Shmuel die young?
Radak: He himself chose to die before Sha'ul.
Radak (1:12, 22, from Midrash Shmuel 2:9): "B'Chol Etzev Yihyeh Mosar" (Mishlei 14:23)
What is the meaning of "u'Vanai Hinam Itchem"?
Radak: They are for your needs, for Divrei Torah and laws that they received from me.
Malbim: My sons did not inherit my greatness. They are like [any] one of the nation
Why did he say "I went in front of you from my youth
Malbim: It was not proper to depose me. I did not slacken from serving the Tzibur, and I did not pervert the verdict.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that old age sprang upon Shmuel. What is the reason?
Radak: Lest people say that he died young, he looked old; not everyone knew his age (he died at 52).
Malbim: It is due to the great work he did for the Tzibur, and the yoke of the Tzibur.
