1 Samuel 8:12

12 and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.

1 Samuel 8:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 8:12

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains
over fifties
Which though posts of honour, yet when they are not matter of choice, and especially being precarious, and depending on the arbitrary will of a prince, are not eligible, and less so to persons that choose another sort of life:

and [will set] them to ear his ground;
to plough it; not the same persons made captains of thousands and fifties, but others, whom he will employ in tilling and manuring his fields, and oblige them to it:

and to reap his harvest;
when it is ripe, and gather it in, and bring it home into his barns and garners:

and to make his instruments of war:
as swords, spears, bows and arrows, most commonly used in those times:

and instruments of chariots;
which seem to design chariots of war, and the iron spikes and scythes which were joined to them, to cut down the foot soldiers, when driven among them in battle, which are commonly called chariots of iron; see ( Joshua 17:16 ) ( Judges 4:3 ) .

1 Samuel 8:12 In-Context

10 So Samuel reported all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots;

12 and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of 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 orchards and give them to his courtiers.