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1 Samuel 8

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1It happened, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beersheba.

3His sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah;

5and they said to him, "Behold, you are old, and your sons don't walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

7Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.

8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to you.

9Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who shall reign over them."

10Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who asked of him a king.

11He said, "This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them to him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots;

12and he will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and [he will set some] to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14He will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive groves, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15He will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16He will take your male servants, and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.

17He will take the tenth of your flocks: and you shall be his servants.

18You shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you shall have chosen you; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day."

19But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No; but we will have a king over us,

20that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."

21Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.

22Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and make them a king." Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man go to his city."

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

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1 Samuel 8:1-3 Verses 1-3

It does not appear that Samuel's sons were so profane and vicious as Eli's sons; but they were corrupt judges, they turned aside after lucre. Samuel took no bribes, but his sons did, and then they perverted judgment. What added to the grievance of the people was, that they were threatened by an invasion from Nahash, king of the Ammonites.

1 Samuel 8:4-9 Verses 4-9

Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them that they shall have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but as sometimes he opposes us from loving-kindness, so at other times he gratifies us in wrath; he did so here. God knows how to bring glory to himself, and serves his own wise purposes, even by men's foolish counsels.

1 Samuel 8:10-22 Verses 10-22

If they would have a king to rule them, as the eastern kings ruled their subjects, they would find the yoke exceedingly heavy. Those that submit to the government of the world and the flesh, are told plainly, what hard masters they are, and what tyranny the dominion of sin is. The law of God and the manner of men widely differ from each other; the former should be our rule in the several relations of life; the latter should be the measure of our expectations from others. These would be their grievances, and, when they complained to God, he would not hear them. When we bring ourselves into distress by our own wrong desires and projects, we justly forfeit the comfort of prayer, and the benefit of Divine aid. The people were obstinate and urgent in their demand. Sudden resolves and hasty desires make work for long and leisurely repentance. Our wisdom is, to be thankful for the advantages, and patient under the disadvantages of the government we may live under; and to pray continually for our rulers, that they may govern us in the fear of God, and that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. And it is a hopeful symptom when our desires of worldly objects can brook delay; and when we can refer the time and manner of their being granted to God's providence.

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Abia: Son of Samuel 1 Samuel 8:1–5

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. / The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. / But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Art: Primitive of the Armorer 1 Samuel 8:12

He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

Arts of The: Armourer 1 Samuel 8:12

He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

Arts of The: Baker 1 Samuel 8:13

And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

Bribery: General Scriptures Concerning 1 Samuel 8:1, 3

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. / But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Chariots: Often Attended by Running Footmen 1 Samuel 8:11

He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

Children: Wicked: Samuel's Sons 1 Samuel 8:3

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Christian Minister: Samuel's Sons 1 Samuel 8:1–3

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. / The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. / But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Covetousness: Samuel's Sons 1 Samuel 8:3

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Forsaking God: Idolaters Guilty of 1 Samuel 8:8

Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures by Israel 1 Samuel 8:7, 8

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. / Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

Government: Mosaic: Chose, or Ratified, the Chief Ruler 1 Samuel 8:4–22

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. / “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” / But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

Government: Mosaic: Demands a King 1 Samuel 8:4–10, 19–22

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. / “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” / But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

Government: Theocratic 1 Samuel 8:6, 7

But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. / And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

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Thousands (Micah 5:2), another name for "families" or "clans" (see Num.… Beersheba Well of the oath, or well of seven, a well… Justice Is rendering to every one that which is his due.… Harvest The season for gathering grain or fruit. On the 16th… Abijah Father (i.e., "possessor or worshipper") of Jehovah. (1.) 1 Chr.… Chosen Spoken of warriors (Ex. 15:4; Judg. 20:16), of the Hebrew… Israel The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at… Samuel Heard of God. The peculiar circumstances connected with his birth… Cattle Abounded in the Holy Land. To the rearing and management… Grain Used, in Amos 9:9, of a small stone or kernel;… Grape The fruit of the vine, which was extensively cultivated in… Judge (Heb. shophet, pl. shophetim), properly a magistrate or ruler, rather… Egypt The land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest… Olive The fruit of the olive-tree. This tree yielded oil which… Lord There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered. (1.)… Joel Jehovah is his God. (1.) The oldest of Samuel's two… City The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which… King Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested…