1 Samuel8
New Living Translation
1As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.
2Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.
3But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.
5“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
6Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance.
7“Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.
8Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.
9Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”
10So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king.
11“This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.
12Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.
13The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.
14He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.
15He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.
16He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.
17He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
18When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.
20“We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
21So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said,
22and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 8.
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.