1 Samuel 8 Study Notes

8:14 Subjects could expect to lose some of their assets to support the king’s servants.

8:15 The law of Moses commanded tithes to support the priests and Levites, but a king would demand that much or more to meet his desires.

8:16 The king would want the best of human resources to accomplish his work (e.g., his various building projects), and he would take what he wanted.

8:17 The king’s additional desire for a tenth of the people’s flocks would impact the shepherds of the land as well as the farmers (v. 15). The heavy burden the people would have to bear to support the monarchy might well leave them feeling like servants instead of citizens.

8:18 On cry out, see note at 4:13.

8:19 To listen to could be translated “to obey.” The people had heard Samuel’s words, but they would not heed them. They were determined to have a king.

8:20 The words like all the other nations (see note at vv. 4-5) again sound ominous. Furthermore, the people’s expectation of their leader was too grandiose—they thought a king would do everything for them. They saw the potential benefit, but they had not counted the cost.

8:21 To the Lord is literally “in the Lord’s ears.” As in prayer, Samuel told God what he already knew.

8:22 The Lord told Samuel to appoint a king over the people. The Lord’s judge and prophet instructed everyone to return home to wait for God’s leading on the matter.