1 Samuel 8:1-6

Israel Asks for a King

1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.^[a]

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^[b] 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.

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1 Samuel 8:1-6 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. Deuteronomy 16:18-19
2. 1 Chronicles 6:28
3. Genesis 22:19; 1 Kings 19:3; Amos 5:4-5
4. 1 Samuel 2:12
5. Nehemiah 9:29; Job 34:27; Psalms 14:3; Psalms 58:3; Isaiah 53:6
6. Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19; 1 Samuel 12:3; Job 8:22; Proverbs 17:23; Psalms 15:5
7. S Exodus 23:2
8. S Judges 11:11; 1 Samuel 11:3
9. S 1 Samuel 7:17
10. ver 19; S Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 10:19; 1 Samuel 12:12,13; Hosea 13:11
11. 1 Samuel 3:20; 1 Samuel 12:2
12. ver 20
13. Hosea 13:10
14. 1 Samuel 12:17; 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 16:1

Footnotes 2

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