1 Samuel 8:4

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

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1 Samuel 8:4 in Other Translations

KJV

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

ESV

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

NLT

4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.

MSG

4 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah.

CSB

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

1 Samuel 8:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 8:4

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,
&c.] At some place of rendezvous appointed; these were the heads of the tribes, and fathers of the houses and families of Israel, the principal persons of age and authority:

and came to Samuel unto Ramah;
the place of his nativity and abode, and where he now dwelt, and judged Israel; they went in a very respectable body with an address to him.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

1 Samuel 8:4 In-Context

2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.

3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

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 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.

Cross References 2

1. S Judges 11:11; 1 Samuel 11:3
2. S 1 Samuel 7:17