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First Samuel 8:4-9, 19-22 Notes

1 Samuel 8:4-9, 19-22 - EXEGESIS (Donovan)

CONTEXT: Chapter 7 told us that Samuel served as a judge over Israel "all the days of his life" (7:15). A judge was more than a person who presided over a courtroom. He was a ruler who governed and led militarily. Judges in Israel were typically rulers over regions rather than the whole nation. Samuel has been an exception. His mandate has been national (3:20; 4:1; 7:3).

When the Philistines were preparing to attack Israel, the people of Israel asked Samuel to ask the Lord to help. Samuel did so, and "Yahweh answered him" (7:9)-"thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel. The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar" (7:10-11). The result was that "the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites" (7:14a).

Chapter 7, then, demonstrates that the people of Israel are in good hands with the Lord and a faithful judge. No king is needed. But "we are more apt to leave God's ways during times of well-being than in time of need. Prosperity seems to be a more fertile breeding ground for discontent and sin than does poverty"

1 SAMUEL 8:1-3. SAMUEL'S SONS PERVERTED JUSTICE

1 Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice.

These verses are not included in the lectionary reading, but they constitute an essential introduction, establishing several key points:

First, Samuel, the undisputed leader of Israel, has grown old. Years have passed since the victory at Mizpah, and the people's memory of that battle has dimmed. More to the point, Samuel is old and won't be able to provide leadership much longer. He may have already have lost vigor and no longer be exercising effective leadership.

Second, Samuel has appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, judges in Beer-Sheba, the southern portion of the nation. The idea seems to be that they can cut their leadership teeth in that sparsely populated place, so that they will be ready to assume Samuel's position when Samuel dies. That would be unusual, because the office of judge is not usually hereditary. The Lord usually raises up judges in response to particular needs.

Third, even though Samuel's sons have Godly names (Joel means "Yahweh is God"; Abijah means "My father is Yahweh"), they have failed to follow Samuel's example of faithful leadership. They have ruled selfishly and unethically, taking bribes and perverting justice. We are reminded of the sons of Eli, the priest, who were also selfish and unethical-even treating the temple offerings with contempt (2:11ff.)

A major difference is that the Lord cut off Eli and his entire family because Eli failed to rein in his sons (2:31). There is no such threat implied in Samuel's case-possibly because the sins of Eli's sons, who profaned holy offerings, were even greater than the sins of Samuel's sons.

But there is little doubt that Samuel intends his sons to succeed him, and there is no doubt that they are unworthy to do so. Samuel, however, seems blind to their sins. It is no wonder, then, that the elders of Israel gather together to resolve the leadership problems posed by Samuel's old age and his sons' sinful ways.

1 SAMUEL 8:4-6a. MAKE US A KING TO JUDGE US, LIKE ALL THE NATIONS

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6a But the matter was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us."

"Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah" (v. 4). The elders of Israel are men who, because of age and good reputation, are local leaders. A gathering of elders represents substantial authority that Samuel cannot ignore. While he is not subject to their authority, their collective opinion carries weight.
▪ As noted above, these elders are concerned about leadership succession. Samuel has grown old, and his sons have proven unfit.
▪ Ramah is located about 5 miles (8 km) north of Jerusalem. It was the home of Samuel's parents (1:19; 2:11), and Samuel has made it his home as well (7:17).

"Behold, you are old, and your sons don't walk in your ways" (v. 5a). The elders lay out the issue plainly. Samuel is old, and his sons are unfit to inherit his mantle.

"now make us a king to judge us" (v. 5b). Samuel has long ruled over Israel, and has appointed judges over particular regions. Now these elders want him to appoint a king for the nation. They expect a king to lead the army in battle against enemies of Israel as well as exercising the more mundane chores of day-to-day rule.
Interestingly enough, the book of Deuteronomy gives Israel the right to have a king, as long as they choose a king from among themselves rather than a foreign king (Deuteronomy 17:14-15). However, the elders of Israel fail to cite this provision when they speak to Samuel about a king. This leads scholars to suspect that those verses were added to Deuteronomy later.
▪ But the same passage that permits Israel to have a king places prohibitions on the king to prevent some of the abuses that Samuel will outline for these elders in verses 11-17. The king is not to acquire many horses or wives-nor is he to acquire great quantities of silver and gold-nor is he to exalt himself above the people (Deuteronomy 17:16-20). But human nature being what it is, these rules will more often than not go unobserved.

"like all the nations" (goy·im) (v. 5c). This is the problem. Israel has long been unlike other nations-distinctive in many ways. Other nations (goy·im-a word that is often translated Gentiles) worship many gods or gods of wood and stone. Israel worships just one God, and that God is Yahweh. Yahweh has served as their king, leading them through the wilderness into the Promised Land. Yahweh has given them a set of laws that define their national identity, distinct from their neighbors. Unlike the men of other nations, Jewish men bear the mark of circumcision. Unlike other peoples, Israelites observe dietary laws as outlined in the Torah. Unlike other nations, Israel observes the sabbath to keep it holy. In these and many other ways Israel is unlike its neighbors. Their distinctiveness was part of the Lord's plan for them. The Lord created them as "a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). But now these Israelite elders are asking to be "like all the nations."

"But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us'" (v. 6a). A more literal translation would be that this thing was evil in Samuel's eyes.
▪ It seems likely that Samuel's displeasure is prompted at least in part by personal considerations. He has been the ruler in Israel for many years-for most of his life. The elders' request tells him that they have reservations about his leadership. Perhaps they are concerned only for the future, given Samuel's age. But it is also possible that Samuel has become less vigorous as he has aged, and the elders are dissatisfied with the way he has managed Israel's affairs in recent years. More explicitly, the elders have surfaced the unhappy situation regarding Samuel's sons, who have demonstrated themselves to be unfit to inherit Samuel's mantle.
▪ Samuel is surely aware of his sons' sins, but he would nevertheless find it difficult to accept public confrontation on this issue by this convocation of elders.
▪ It seems likely that Samuel's displeasure is also prompted by theological considerations. Yahweh has been Israel's king. Why would these elders want to promote a human into that role-to displace Yahweh as king? Why would they want to be like other nations, when the Lord has created them as a distinctive people?

1 SAMUEL 8:6b-9. LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE-AND PROTEST SOLEMNLY

6b And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day-in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods-so they are doing to you as well. 9 Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of the [b]practice of the king who will reign over them."

"Samuel prayed to Yahweh" (v. 6b). Samuel was displeased by the request of the elders, but there is no suggestion here that he responded angrily. Instead, he turns to the Lord for guidance-a tribute to his lifelong habit of following the Lord's leadership.

"Yahweh said to Samuel, 'Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you'" (v. 7a). The Lord's response to Samuel is surprising. Instead of telling Samuel to reject the request of the elders-or to punish them for their impudence-the Lord tells Samuel to listen to them. The implication is that the Lord intends for Samuel to do more than just listen. He is to comply with their request. He is to allow them to have their king.
▪ This is, in part, a graceful note. The Lord could have struck these elders dead for attempting to do away with Israel's distinctiveness-a distinctiveness based on their relationship to the Lord and their adherence to Torah law. But the Lord, in this case, takes a very different tack. He is willing to give them what they want-but this is tough love, nevertheless, because they will learn soon enough that there is both good and bad in having a king. As time progresses, their kings will become evil and corrupt. Israel will suffer mightily at the hands of their kings.

"for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them"(v. 7b). The Lord reassures Samuel that the elders are, in fact, rebelling against the Lord. They want to put a human king in the divine king's place. "The issue is idolatry (like other nations) and apostasy (only God is king), not personal affront" (Birch).

"According 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" (v. 8). The record of Israel's grumbling and unfaithfulness is far too lengthy to catalog in detail here. It began even before they crossed the Red Sea when they complained to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?" (Exodus 14:11). After crossing the Red Sea, they complained, "What shall we drink?" (Exodus 15:24). Then they said, "We wish that we had died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger" (Exodus 16:3). Then they failed to follow Moses' instructions not to hoard manna (Exodus 16:20). Then "the people quarreled with Moses, and said, 'Give us water to drink'" (Exodus 17:2). And then there is the story of the golden calf (Exodus 32).

"Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way (mis·pat) of the king who shall reign over them" (v. 9). The elders have named their poison, and the Lord is willing to allow them to drink it-but first, he directs Samuel to warn them of the consequences that they can expect to face.
▪ The Hebrew word mis·pat is usually translated justice, but there are other possibilities. In this context, the sense is that Israel can expect the king to exercise authority in ways that they will find unpleasant.

1 SAMUEL 8:19-22. BUT THE PEOPLE REFUSED TO LISTEN TO SAMUEL

19 Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the LORD'S hearing. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go, every man to his city."

"But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, 'No; but we will have a king over us'" (v. 19). Samuel is a prophet who is telling the people what the Lord has told him to say. Therefore, when the people refuse to listen to Samuel, they are de facto refusing to listen to the Lord. It is the Lord's warning that they are disregarding. They have made up their minds that they want a king, and are not open to hearing facts or opinions that would lead them in a different direction. They are afraid and want security. They have determined that a king will provide security. Nothing that Samuel can say will divert them from their determination to have a king-and the security that they believe a king will give them.
▪ The narrator's portrayal of Israel's rejection of Samuel's warnings is reminiscent of the Torah language depicting Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to submit to Moses; both 'did not hear'" (Bergen, 118).

"that we also may be like all the nations" (v. 20a). Once again, this is the problem. These elders want to do away with that which makes them the distinctive people of God. They want to be like other nations-nations that do not know Yahweh.

"and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles" (v. 20b). This is what they hope to accomplish. They want a king to govern and to fight their battles. They are looking for a savior-someone who will organize them both domestically and internationally-someone who will give them a strong economy and a strong military. Sound familiar!
▪ But, as the people will discover over time, there are good kings and bad-but all will be flawed.

NOTE: vv. 21-22 not covered here.

1 Sam. 8:4-9, 19-22 - EW Commentary

A. The people of Israel request a king.

1. (1 Sam. 8:1-3) Samuel appoints his sons as judges.

a. When Samuel was old ... he made his sons judges over Israel: Samuel was one of the most godly men in the entire Bible. He is never specifically said to sin. Yet, this may be a sin on his part. We never have the pattern of judges being appointed by men, or of the office of judge being passed from father to son. Samuel was not right in appointing his sons judges over Israel.
i. "But they were never judges in the proper sense of the word; Samuel was the last judge in Israel, and he judged it to the day of his death. See 1 Samuel 7:15." (Clarke)

b. His sons did not walk in his ways: This is why Samuel was wrong to appoint his sons as judges over Israel. This kind of nepotism is a common, but harmful mistake many leaders in ministry make, especially as they grow older.
i. Probably, Samuel just could not look objectively at his sons. He would excuse sins in them that he would see more clearly in others. This is a common mistake people make with their family, especially with their children.

c. They turned aside to dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice: This was bad enough, but what many of our leaders do today seems worse! We almost wish for leaders "only as bad" as these sons of Samuel!

2. (1 Sam. 8:4-5) Samuel's sons are rejected as leaders over Israel.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations."

a. All the elders of Israel gathered: This was wise for the elders of Israel to do this. They did not have to accept leaders who were obviously ungodly and unfit to lead.

b. While it is was wise for the elders of Israel to reject Samuel's sons as leaders, it was wrong for them to say, "Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations."
i. In and of itself, the desire to have a king was not bad. God knew that one day Israel would have a king. Four hundred years before this, God gave instructions to Israel about their future king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). A king was in God's plan for Israel.
ii. Yet, the reason Israel wanted a king was wrong. Like all the nations is no reason at all. We often get into trouble by wanting to be like the world, when we should instead be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). The church struggles with the same issue today, too often wanting to be like the world.
iii. We may also get into trouble when we want the right things for the wrong reasons. In those situations, God may give us what we want, and then deal with us regarding the reasons.
iv. Morgan on Israel's request to be like the other nations: "This is the revelation of the supreme wrong. They had been chosen to be unlike the nations, a people directly governed by God."

c. What was the difference between a king and a judge? A judge was a leader raised up by God, usually to meet a specific need in a time of crisis. When the crisis was over, usually the judge just went back to doing what he was doing before. A king not only held his office as king as long as he lived; he also passed his throne down to his descendants.
i. In addition, a judge would not have a "government." He was there to meet a specific need in a time of crisis. A king would establish a standing government, with a bureaucracy, which is both a blessing and a curse to any people.
ii. In Judges 8, Gideon was offered the throne over Israel. He refused it, saying "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you." (Judges 8:23) This was the heart of all the judges, and why Israel went some 400 years in the Promised Land without a king.

3. (1 Sam. 8:6-8) Samuel prays about their request and God answers.

6 But the matter was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day-in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods-so they are doing to you as well.

a. The thing displeased Samuel: No doubt, Samuel was stung by the rejection of his sons. But even more than that, Samuel saw the ungodly motive behind the elders' request for a king.

b. So Samuel prayed to the LORD: This is the right thing to do whenever we are displeased. We should never carry such troubles with us. Instead, we should do what Samuel did, when he prayed to the LORD.
i. "Things do not always turn out as we had hoped, and we get displeased for our own sakes and God's. We had planned in one direction, but events issued in another; and the results have threatened to become disastrous. There is but one resource. If we allow vexations to eat into our heart, they will corrode and injure it. We must rehearse them before God - spreading the letter before Him, as Hezekiah did; making request like Paul; crying like Samuel ... Surely it is the mistake of our life, that we carry our burdens instead of handing them over; that we worry instead of trusting; that we pray so little." (Meyer)

c. Heed the voice of the people: God told Samuel to fulfill the people's request. This was not because their request was good or right, but because God was going to teach Israel through this. Sometimes, when we insist of having something bad, God will allow us to have it, and then learn the consequences.
i. Again, in many ways, this was a matter of timing. God knew Israel would one day have a king, but He wanted to give Israel that king in His own timing. Because Israel was demanding a king out of bad, carnal reasons, God will give them a bad, carnal king. Israel will get what they want, and will hurt because of it!

d. They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them: God had a purpose in not giving Israel a king up to that point. It was because He did not want them to put an ungodly trust in the king, instead of trusting in the LORD. Now, Israel is rejecting this plan of God, and declaring that they do not want the LORD God to reign over them.
i. In the words they have not rejected you, we sense God comforting Samuel. It is as if God is saying "Samuel, don't take it personally. They are not rejecting you, but Me." It is easy for God's servants to take such rejection personally when they should not. Jesus warned His disciples, he who rejects you rejects Me (Luke 10:16). As long as we are not being personally offensive or obnoxious, we shouldn't take such rejection personally.

e. In fact, Israel was forsaking God by asking for a king: They have forsaken Me ... so they are doing to you also. When the elders of Israel asked for a king, they were thinking that better politics or government could meet their needs. But if they had just been faithful to their King in heaven, they would not have needed a king on earth.
i. This strikes us as simply unfair. Had not God shown Himself to be a worthy King? Didn't He demonstrate His ability to lead the nation, and demonstrate it over and over again?
ii. There is a sense in which their rejection of God as their king is prophetic. When Jesus stood before Pilate, the assembled Jewish mob declared, we have no king but Caesar (John 19:15). Jesus was a rejected King also.

4. (1 Sam. 8:9) God tells Samuel to warn the nation.

9 Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of the [b]practice of the king who will reign over them."

a. You shall solemnly forewarn them: The sense in this verse is that Israel will not change their mind, and this isn't Samuel's goal. His goal is to simply forewarn them. If this was the course Israel would choose, God wanted them to make an informed choice. So, the LORD tells Samuel to show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.

b. Of course, information creates responsibility. In telling Israel this, Samuel was not only helping them to make an informed choice; he was increasing their accountability for making the right choice. They couldn't say, "We didn't know."

2. (1 Sam 8:19-22) Israel demands a king despite God's warning.

a. No, but we will have a king over us: Israel demanded a king, and as it will work out, this is exactly what happens. God gives Israel "their" king: Saul. Later, after "their" king fails, God will give Israel "His" king: David. Because we know God ultimately wanted Israel to be a monarchy, we might even guess that if Israel had not forsaken the LORD here, God would have made David the first king of Israel, and spared the nation (and David!) all the trouble Saul caused.

b. The heart of the nation of Israel is revealed by their reasons for wanting a king.
i. That we also may be like all the nations. God never wanted this to be the goal for Israel. God wanted to make them a special treasure to Me above all people ... a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). God wanted to make Israel something special, and they wanted to be just like everyone else! Poole says of this, "woeful stupidity! whereas it was their glory and happiness that they were unlike all other nations ... that the Lord was their only and immediate King and Lawgiver."
ii. And that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles. What? Had the LORD God never won a battle for Israel before? God had just won a spectacular battle for Israel in 1 Samuel 7. Israel did not want a king. They had a king in the LORD God. What they wanted was the image of a king. Their desire for a king was really the desire for someone to look at with their own eyes that looked like what they thought a king should look like.

c. So the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed their voice, and make them a king." In a sense, this almost funny. They are rejecting the rule of God, yet they cannot escape it, because God will appoint their king. God will never step off His throne, even if man asks Him to. Yet, if we resist the rule of God, we will find that we do not benefit from it the way that we might. When we resist God, we only hurt ourselves!
i. "There is no compulsion to accept the rule of God, yet ultimately there is no escaping it, for he appoints the king." (Baldwin)

1 Sam. 8:4-9, 19-22 Extra Commentary

Verses 8:1 - 12:25: Describe the establishment of the kingship over the nation of Israel and the advent of Saul as the first king. These chapters are linked by reference to Samuel's being old (8:1; 12:2), and listening to "the voice of the people" (8:7, 9, 22; 12:1, 14-15).

1 Samuel 8:1 "And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel."

"Samuel was old": Samuel was about 60 years of age (1043 B.C.). He appointed his two sons to serve as judges in Beer-sheba, a city about 57 miles south of Ramah. The question is, how old is old here. Some have placed his age at just over 50 years of age here. Other scholars have placed his age at as much as 70. It is not an unnatural thing for a father to delegate some of his work to his sons when they become old enough to handle the job.

1 Samuel 8:2 "Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba."

"Joel": The name means "the Lord is God." "Abiah: the name means "my Father is the Lord."

Many times in the Old Testament, the meaning of people's names enter into the meaning of the Scripture. We can tell from these names that Samuel was fully aware of who the LORD was. He had named his sons with names that expressed the way he felt about the LORD. Beer-sheba was in the land of Judah not far from Ramah where Samuel lived.

1 Samuel 8:3 "And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment."

Like Eli before him, Samuel was too preoccupied with his ministry to properly oversee the spiritual upbringing of his own children.

"His sons walked not in his ways": The perverted desire for riches led Samuel's sons to take bribes and thereby pervert justice. These actions were strictly forbidden for judges (in Deut. 16:19). The sins of Samuel's sons became the pretext for Israel's demand for a king (verses 4-5).

Taking bribes was strictly forbidden. The Israelites prided themselves on the fairness of their judgments. This was a disgrace to Samuel. Deut. 16:19 "Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous."

Samuel had lived an upright life. His sons are not following in their father's footsteps.

Verses 4-5: Like the surrounding nations, the people of Israel wanted "a king" who would visibly symbolize power and security and lead them into battle (Deut. 17:14-15). The Israelites, influenced by other nations, were no longer listening to Samuel.

1 Samuel 8:4 "Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,"

At some place of rendezvous appointed; these were the heads of the tribes, and fathers of the houses and families of Israel, the principal persons of age and authority.

"And came to Samuel unto Ramah": The place of his nativity and abode, and where he now dwelt, and judged Israel; they went in a very respectable body to meet him.

At the time this happened, Samuel had almost complete rule over the Israelites. He had not abused his leadership though. They are coming to complain of the actions of his sons. He is at his hometown of Ramah.

Verses 5-18: Although God had made provision long before for His own anointed "king" (Gen. 17:7; 49:10; Num. 24:17), and had laid down specific regulations for the kingdom (Deut. 17:14-20), the people's request was for a kingdom patterned after the "nations" around them. Such a king, of course, was to serve under God as the earthly representative of the true sovereign of the nation and of the universe (Psalms 2:6-9; 110:1; 146:10; Dan. 4:25); but such a one they did not request. Accordingly, both God and Samuel were displeased, and the people were given solemn warning as to just what their choice entailed. Archaeological confirmation of the accuracy of the warnings spelled out (in verses 11-18), comes from the excavations of ancient Alalakh and Ugarit.

1 Samuel 8:5 "And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

"Now make us a king ... like all the nations": When Israel entered the land, they encountered Canaanite city-states that were led by kings (see Joshua 12:7-24). Additionally, during the period of the judges, Israel was enslaved by nations that were led by kings (Judges 3:8, 12; 4:2; 8:5; 11:12). However, at the time of the judges there was no king in Israel (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). As Israel lived in the land surrounded by nations that had kings, the desire arose for a king in Israel also. According to (Deut. 17:14), God knew this would be their desire and He would allow it to occur. However (verse 20), revealed a motive which was definitely counter to the Lord's will (see note on 8:20).

It is very interesting, to me, that the elders had enough confidence in Samuel to do right, that they even told him of the sins of his sons. They are not complaining about the rule of Samuel. If Samuel were younger, they would not need a king. He would rule them fairly. His sons were not dedicated as he was. They were greedy for filthy lucre. God does not want them to have an earthly king. He is their King. They want to be as the other nations around them who was ruled by a king.

Verses 6-9: A literal rendering of "displeased Samuel" is "evil in his sight". He knew the decision to appoint a king was a rejection of God's authority, with dire consequences for the nation. Compounding his sorrow was Samuel's awareness that his sons were not fit to succeed him.

1 Samuel 8:6 "But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD."

Not that they called him an old man, and suggested that he was incapacitated for his office, nor for observing the unbecoming walk of his sons, but for what follows: when they said, give us a king to judge us. What displeased him was, that they were for changing their form of government, not only to remove it from him, and his sons, but from the Lord himself, who was king over them. The ill consequences of which, many of them at least, he easily foresaw, and which gave him great uneasiness, both on account of the glory of God, and their own good. Insomuch, as Josephus says, he could neither eat nor sleep, but watched all night, and spent it in prayer.

"And Samuel prayed unto the Lord": To know his mind and will, and what answer he should return unto them.

Samuel was not displeased about their complaints about his sons. He was disappointed, that they did not realize that the LORD was their King. Samuel is a very dedicated man of the LORD. He never makes a decision like this without first finding the will of the LORD in the matter.

1 Samuel 8:7 "And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

"Hearken unto the voice of the people": The Lord had predicted that there would be kings over Israel (Gen. 35:11; 36:31; 49:10; Num. 24:7-9, 17; Deut. 17:14; 28:36). Here, the Lord told Samuel to obey the request of the people and give them a king.

"They have not rejected thee, but ... Me": The nature of this rejection of the Lord by Israel is explained (in verses 19-20).

The LORD agrees with Samuel, that the request of the people is wrong. He explains to Samuel that they wanted a king, not to get rid of Samuel. They were a rebellious house against the rule of the LORD. They could not see that they were so much better off than the heathen countries around them. They did not want a sovereign God. They wanted an earthly king.

1 Samuel 8:8 "According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee."

This was no new thing; all that they had done since they were wonderfully favored of God, as to be brought out of Egyptian bondage, was all of a piece with this. One continued series of ingratitude, of rebellion against God, and against his servants, that he employed under him, as Moses, Aaron, etc.

"Even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods": This is what this people were always addicted to, the easing off of worship and service of God, and go into idolatry.

"So do they also unto thee": Acted the like ungrateful part to him for all the service he had done them, from his childhood to that time. Wherefore, as the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord, if such things as before observed were done to Jehovah himself, Samuel could not expect to meet with better treatment, other than he had (see Matt. 10:24).

Even in the midst of all the miracles coming through the wilderness wanderings, they had rebelled against God. He had forgiven them over and over and they just went back into idol worship. They had never been faithful to God. He punished them when they fell into the worship of false gods, but they did not learn from this. He forgave them every time they cried out to him. They just would not remain faithful to God.

1 Samuel 8:9 "Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."

"Protest solemnly unto them": Samuel obeyed the Lord by describing the behavior of a human king in verses 10-18. A king would:
1. Draft young men and women for his service (verses 11-13);
2. Tax the people's crops and flocks (verses 14-15, 17a);
3. Appropriate the best of their animals and servants (verse 16;
4. Place limitations on their personal freedom (verse 17b).

The LORD is telling Samuel to tell them they can have an earthly king if they insist. He will explain to them exactly what they will be facing with a king. They have never served an earthly king and they have no idea what that means. Samuel will warn them of the consequences, if they do not take his advice, they will have to take the consequences.

1 Samuel 8:19 "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;"

"We will have a king over us": In spite of Samuel's warnings, the people demanded a king.

This house had been rebellious against God from the beginning. They believe they are rejecting Samuel here, when in fact, they are rejecting God. They have rejected being a people separate from the world. They want to be of the world, like everyone else.

1 Samuel 8:20 "That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."

"Fight our battles": Up until this point, the Lord Himself had fought the battles for Israel and given continual victory (Joshua 10:14; 1 Sam. 7:10). Israel no longer wanted the Lord to be their warrior, replacing Him with a human king was their desire. It was in this way that Israel rejected the Lord (see verse 7). The problem was not in having a king; but, rather the reason the people wanted a king, i.e., to be like other nations. They also foolishly assumed there would be some greater power in a king leading them in battle.

This statement is exactly what God did not want them to do. The other nations around them depended on earthly strength to fight their battles. They were led by kings, who put their trust in horses and chariots. God had proved, over and over, that all Israel needed was Him. He was their strength in battle. No earthly king fights the battles. Their chosen army fights the battle. The king just gives the commands.

1 Samuel 8:21 "And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD."

They sneered at Samuel's description as a cause of obsessive fear to frighten them. Determined, at all hazards, to gain their object, they insisted on being made like all the other nations, though it was their glory and happiness to be unlike other nations in having the Lord for their King and Lawgiver (Nun. 23:9; Deut. 33:28). Their demand was conceded, for the government of a king had been provided for in the law; and they were dismissed to wait the appointment, which God had reserved to Himself (Deut. 17:14-20).

"And he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord": 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, 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.

Samuel listened carefully to the answer of the warning the LORD had given them through him. He tries to give the answer, exactly as he had heard it.

1 Samuel 8:22 "And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city."

These are God's words of resignation as He grants the people's request. God sometimes lets people have their way so they will one day recognize their need for Him, so that the foolishness of men may be seen in clear distinction to God's holy purposes and standards (Prov. 9:9-10; Acts 17:26-27).

They have rejected the LORD for an earthly king. The LORD now gives His consent for Samuel to get them a king. God put within each of us a will. We can choose to follow Him or we can choose to follow the world. They have chosen to follow the world. Notice that the man of God will not be their civil leader. Samuel will remain in power as their spiritual leader. He will be judge as long as he lives. He will remain a prophet of God.

A prophet or priest was not to accept the office of king. Samuel sends them all to their homes, until the LORD selects the king.

Daniel 2:21 "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:"