1 Samuel 8:1

1 Y aconteció que cuando Samuel era ya viejo, puso a sus hijos como jueces sobre Israel.

1 Samuel 8:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 8:1

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old
The common notion of the Jews is, that he lived but fifty two years ^F20; when a man is not usually called an old man, unless the infirmities of old age came upon him sooner than they commonly do, through his indefatigable labours from his childhood, and the cares and burdens of government he had long bore; though some think he was about sixty years of age; and Abarbinel is of opinion that he was more than seventy. It is a rule with the Jews ^F21, that a man is called an old man at sixty, and a grey headed man at seventy:

that he made his sons judges over Israel;
under himself, not being able through old age to go the circuits he used; he sent them, and appointed them to hear and try causes in his stead, or settled them in some particular places in the land, and, as it seems by what follows, at Beersheba; though whether that was under his direction, or was their own choice, is not certain.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F20 Seder Olam Rabba, ut supra. (c. 13. p. 35.)
F21 Pirke Abot, c. 5. sect. 21.

1 Samuel 8:1 In-Context

1 Y aconteció que cuando Samuel era ya viejo, puso a sus hijos como jueces sobre Israel.

2 El nombre de su primogénito era Joel, y el nombre del segundo, Abías; éstos juzgaban en Beerseba.

3 Pero sus hijos no anduvieron por los caminos de él, sino que se desviaron tras ganancias deshonestas, aceptaron sobornos y pervirtieron el derecho.

4 Entonces se reunieron todos los ancianos de Israel y fueron a Samuel en Ramá,

5 y le dijeron: Mira, has envejecido y tus hijos no andan en tus caminos. Ahora pues, danos un rey para que nos juzgue, como todas las naciones.