1 Samuel 8

1 When Sh'mu'el grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Isra'el.

2 His firstborn was named Yo'el, while his second son was named Aviyah; they were judges in Be'er-Sheva.

3 However, his sons did not follow his way of life; they turned off it to pursue riches, so that they would take bribes to distort justice.

4 All the leaders of Isra'el gathered themselves together, approached Sh'mu'el in Ramah

5 and said to him, "Look, you have grown old, and your sons are not following your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

6 Sh'mu'el was not pleased to hear them say, "Give us a king to judge us"; so he prayed to ADONAI.

7 ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, "Listen to the people, to everything they say to you; for it is not you they are rejecting; they are rejecting me; they don't want me to be king over them.

8 They are doing to you exactly what they have been doing to me, from the day I brought them out of Egypt until today, by abandoning me and serving other gods.

9 So do what they say, but give them a sober warning, telling them what kinds of rulings their king will make."

10 Sh'mu'el reported everything ADONAI had said to the people asking him for a king.

11 He said, "Here is the kind of rulings your king will make: he will draft your sons and assign them to take care of his chariots, be his horsemen and be bodyguards running ahead of his chariots.

12 He will appoint them to serve him as officers in charge of a thousand or of fifty, plowing his fields, gathering his harvest, and making his weapons and the equipment for his chariots.

13 He will take your daughters and have them be perfume-makers, cooks and bakers.

14 He will expropriate your fields, vineyards and olive groves - the very best of them! - and hand them over to his servants.

15 He will take the ten-percent tax of your crops and vineyards and give it to his officers and servants.

16 He will take your male and female servants, your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.

17 He will take the ten-percent tax of your flocks, and you will become his servants.

18 When that happens, you will cry out on account of your king, whom you yourselves chose. But when that happens, ADONAI will not answer you!"

19 However, the people refused to listen to what Sh'mu'el told them, and they said, "No! We want a king over us,

20 so that we can be like all the nations, with our king to judge us, lead us and fight our battles."

21 Sh'mu'el heard everything the people said and repeated them for ADONAI to hear.

22 ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, "Do what they ask, and set up a king for them." So Sh'mu'el told the men of Isra'el, "Each of you, return to his city."

1 Samuel 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

The evil government of Samuel's sons. (1-3) The Israelites ask for a king. (4-9) The manner of a king. (10-22)

Verses 1-3 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.

Verses 4-9 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.

Verses 10-22 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.

Chapter Summary

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.