1 Samuel 8:2-12

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in ¹Beersheba.

3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and ²took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at ³Ramah;

5 and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now ⁴appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations."

6 But the thing was ⁵displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And ⁶Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for ⁷they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

8 "Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day -in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods -so they are doing to you also.

9 "Now then, listen to their voice; ⁸however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of ⁹the procedure of the king who will reign over them."

Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to ¹⁰the people who had asked of him a king.

11 He said, "¹¹This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: ¹²he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and ¹³they will run before his chariots.

12 "¹⁴He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

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1 Samuel 8:2-12 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 14

1. Genesis 22:19; 1 Kings 19:3; Amos 5:5
2. Exodus 23:6, 8; Deuteronomy 16:19
3. 1 Samuel 7:17
4. Deuteronomy 17:14, 15
5. 1 Samuel 12:17
6. 1 Samuel 15:11
7. Exodus 16:8; 1 Samuel 10:19
8. Ezekiel 3:18
9. 1 Samuel 8:11-18; 1 Samuel 10:25
10. 1 Samuel 8:4
11. Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 10:25
12. 1 Samuel 14:52
13. 2 Samuel 15:1
14. Numbers 31:14; 1 Samuel 22:7

Footnotes 5

[a]. Or "evil"
[b]. Lit "testify to"
[c]. Lit "custom"
[d]. Lit "custom"
[e]. Lit "plow his plowing"