1 Samuel 8:19

19 However, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel and they said, "No, but there must be a king over us,

1 Samuel 8:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 8:19

Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel,
&c.] The advice he gave not to think of a king, but be content with the government under which they were; but to this they would not hearken, notwithstanding all the inconveniences that would attend such a change:

and they said, nay, but we will have a king over us;
they would not believe what Samuel said concerning a king, even though they were the words of the Lord he delivered to them; and though they knew Samuel was a prophet, and spoke by a spirit of prophecy, and none of his words had ever fallen to the ground: but such was their stubbornness and obstinacy, and so set upon having a king, that one they would have, let them suffer what hardships, or be at what expenses they might; at all events, and against all remonstrances, they were determined to have one.

1 Samuel 8:19 In-Context

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

18 So you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but Yahweh will not answer you on that day!"

19 However, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel and they said, "No, but there must be a king over us,

20 so that we {also} may be like all the nations, and our king may rule us and go out before us and fight our battles."

21 Now when Samuel heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.