1 Samuel 8:1

1 When Sh'mu'el grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Isra'el.

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.

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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 When Sh'mu'el grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Isra'el.

2 His firstborn was named Yo'el, while his second son was named Aviyah; they were judges in Be'er-Sheva.

3 However, his sons did not follow his way of life; they turned off it to pursue riches, so that they would take bribes to distort justice.

4 All the leaders of Isra'el gathered themselves together, approached Sh'mu'el in Ramah

5 and said to him, "Look, you have grown old, and your sons are not following your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."