1 Samuel 8:4-9

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead^[a] us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

7 And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

1 Samuel 8:4-9 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 Judges 11:11; 1 Samuel 11:3
• 2. S 1 Samuel 7:17
• 3. ver 19; S Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 10:19; 1 Samuel 12:12,13; Hosea 13:11
• 4. 1 Samuel 3:20; 1 Samuel 12:2
• 5. ver 20
• 6. Hosea 13:10
• 7. 1 Samuel 12:17; 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 16:1
• 8. ver 22; 1 Samuel 12:1
• 9. S Numbers 11:20
• 10. S Exodus 16:8; 1 Samuel 10:19
• 11. 1 Samuel 12:10; 2 Kings 21:22; Jeremiah 2:17
• 12. ver 11-18; S Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 10:25

Footnotes

• [a]. Traditionally "judge" ; also in verses 6 and 20