1 Samuel 8:21

21 When Samuel heard everything the people had to say, he reported it privately to the LORD.

1 Samuel 8:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 8:21

And Samuel heard all the words of the people
Patiently, and without interruption; attentively heard them, took notice of them, laid them up in his memory; but gave no answer to them, but reported them to the Lord, as in the next clause:

and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord;
privately, in a free and familiar manner, with great exactness, as they were expressed; this he did, not before the people publicly, but in secret prayer, seeking for direction what he should further do, or what answer he should return to them.

1 Samuel 8:21 In-Context

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, "No, we want a king!

20 Then we, too, will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us out [to war], and fight our battles."

21 When Samuel heard everything the people had to say, he reported it privately to the LORD.

22 The LORD told him, "Listen to them, and give them a king." Then Samuel told the people of Israel, "Go [back] to your own cities."