1 Samuel8
World English Bible · Public Domain
1When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.
5They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
7Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.
8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you.
9Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them.”
10Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king.
11He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots.
12He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.
13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.
15He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.
16He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.
17He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.
18You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”
19But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
20that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
21Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.
22Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”
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.