1 Samuel 8:10-18

10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.

12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.

14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.

16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle^[a] and donkeys he will take for his own use.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

1 Samuel 8:10-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 8

This chapter relates, how that Samuel being old, and his sons behaving ill, the people desired to have a king set over them, 1Sa 8:1-5, which case Samuel laid before the Lord, and he was directed by him to yield to the people's desire, but at the same time to set before them all the disadvantages and ill consequences that would arise from thence, which he did, 1Sa 8:6-18, but they insisting upon it, nevertheless, he gave them reason to expect that their request would be granted, 1Sa 8:19-22.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 19:7
• 2. 1 Samuel 10:25; 1 Samuel 14:52
• 3. S Genesis 41:46
• 4. S Deuteronomy 17:16; 2 Samuel 15:1; 1 Kings 1:5; 2 Chronicles 1:14; 2 Chronicles 9:25; Song of Songs 3:7
• 5. S Deuteronomy 1:15; 1 Samuel 22:7
• 6. Ezekiel 46:18
• 7. 1 Kings 21:7,15; Micah 2:2
• 8. 2 Kings 22:12
• 9. S Genesis 41:34; 1 Samuel 17:25
• 10. 1 Samuel 28:6; Job 27:9; Job 35:12,13; Psalms 18:41; Psalms 66:18; Proverbs 1:28; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 58:4; Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 14:12; Ezekiel 8:18; Micah 3:4
• 11. 1 Samuel 10:25; 1 Kings 12:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Septuagint; Hebrew "young men"