1 Samuel 8:17-22

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.

20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD.

22 The LORD answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

1 Samuel 8:17-22 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. 1 Samuel 28:6; Job 27:9; Job 35:12,13; Psalms 18:41; Psalms 66:18; Proverbs 1:28; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 58:4; Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 14:12; Ezekiel 8:18; Micah 3:4
• 2. 1 Samuel 10:25; 1 Kings 12:4
• 3. Proverbs 1:24; Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 66:4; Jeremiah 7:13; Jeremiah 8:12; Jeremiah 13:10; Jeremiah 44:16
• 4. Acts 13:21
• 5. S ver 5
• 6. S ver 5
• 7. S Judges 11:11
• 8. S ver 7