1 Samuel8
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 When became , he his over .
2 The of his was , and the of his , ; they were in .
3 Yet his did in his but . They and .
4 Then the of gathered and to at
5 and to him, , you are and your do in your . for us a to us like the .
6 But the they , us a to us. And to the Lord.
7 And the Lord to , the of the in they to you, they have you, they have me from being them.
8 According to the they have , the I out of even , me and , they are to you.
9 then, their ; you shall them and them the of the shall them.
10 So the of the Lord to the who were for a him.
11 He , will be the of the will you: he will your and them to his and to be his and to his .
12 And he will for himself of and of , and some to his and to his , and to his of and the of his .
13 He will your to be and and .
14 He will the of your and and and them to his .
15 He will take the of your and of your and it to his and to his .
16 He will your male and and the of your and your , and them to his .
17 He will take the of your , and you shall be his .
18 And in that you will cry of your , you have for yourselves, but the Lord will you in that .
19 But the to the of . And they , ! there shall be a us,
20 that we may be like the , and that our may us and us and our .
21 And when had the of the , he them in the of the Lord.
22 And the Lord to , their and them a . then to the of , every to his .
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1 Samuel 8Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 8. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The evil government of Samuel's sons. (1–3). The Israelites ask for a king. (4–9). The manner of a king. (10–22).
vv1-3
It does not appear that Samuel's sons were so profane and vicious as Eli's sons; but they were corrupt judges, they turned aside after lucre. Samuel took no bribes, but his sons did, and then they perverted judgment. What added to the grievance of the people was, that they were threatened by an invasion from Nahash, king of the Ammonites.
vv4-9
Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them that they shall have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but as sometimes he opposes us from loving-kindness, so at other times he gratifies us in wrath; he did so here. God knows how to bring glory to himself, and serves his own wise purposes, even by men's foolish counsels.
vv10-22
If they would have a king to rule them, as the eastern kings ruled their subjects, they would find the yoke exceedingly heavy. Those that submit to the government of the world and the flesh, are told plainly, what hard masters they are, and what tyranny the dominion of sin is. The law of God and the manner of men widely differ from each other; the former should be our rule in the several relations of life; the latter should be the measure of our expectations from others. These would be their grievances, and, when they complained to God, he would not hear them. When we bring ourselves into distress by our own wrong desires and projects, we justly forfeit the comfort of prayer, and the benefit of Divine aid. The people were obstinate and urgent in their demand. Sudden resolves and hasty desires make work for long and leisurely repentance. Our wisdom is, to be thankful for the advantages, and patient under the disadvantages of the government we may live under; and to pray continually for our rulers, that they may govern us in the fear of God, and that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. And it is a hopeful symptom when our desires of worldly objects can brook delay; and when we can refer the time and manner of their being granted to God's providence.
Key Words
שְׁמוּאֵל: Shemuel, the name of three Israelites
זָקֵן: to be old
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
שָׁפַט: to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בְּכוֹר: firstborn; hence, chief
יוֹאֵל: Joel, the name of twelve Israelites
מִשְׁנֶה: properly, a repetition, i.e. a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount); by implication, a second (in order, rank, age, quality or location)
Cross References
1 Samuel 8Moses foretold the request for a king to judge Israel "like all the nations" around them.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicit law forbidding the taking of gifts or bribes which perverts the judgment of the righteous.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Hosea explicitly states that God gave Israel a king in His anger and took him away in wrath.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels Israel's murmurings; their rejection of Samuel, like Moses, was ultimately a rejection of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's historical summary in Antioch explicitly mentions Israel's request for a king and God granting Saul.
Samuel reviews their demand, noting they chose a human king though the Lord God was their King.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Gideon previously rejected personal dynastic rule because "the Lord shall rule over you."
Samuel writes the "manner of the kingdom" in a book, as commanded in verse 9.
Balaam's prophecy declared Israel should dwell alone, not be reckoned among the nations they sought to copy.
Supported by JFB
Fulfillment of the warning: Absalom prepares chariots, horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Supported by JFB
Ahab confiscating Naboth's vineyard illustrates a king seizing the best fields as Samuel warned.
When they cry out in their self-inflicted distress, God will refuse to hear their counsel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Genealogical confirmation of Samuel's sons: Vashni (here Joel) and Abiah.
Fulfillment showing Saul taking every strong or valiant man for himself as Samuel warned.