1 Samuel, 8

Name: 1 Samuel
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Calling Idols Repentance Family Judgment Kingdom God Slavery Prayer Faithfulness Obedience Work Punishment Acknowledging Almighty Anger Giving

The people of Israel demand a king, even though God has been their king through the judges and prophets. Samuel warns them of the dangers of having a human king, but they persist in their demand.

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Bible version

The People Demand a King

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

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

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

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

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

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

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.

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

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.

Commentary

1 Samuel 8 is a pivotal chapter in the book of 1 Samuel, as it marks the transition from the period of the Judges to the period of the Kings. In this chapter, the people of Israel come to Samuel and ask him to appoint a king to rule over them. This request is a direct challenge to God's authority, as the people are rejecting God's rule and instead asking for a human king. Samuel is initially displeased with the request, but God instructs him to grant the people's request. God explains that the people are not rejecting Him, but rather they are rejecting His rule. God then outlines the consequences of having a human king, including the fact that the king will take their sons and daughters, their fields, and their flocks. The chapter ends with the people's request being granted, and Saul being appointed as the first king of Israel. This marks the beginning of a new era in Israel's history, and the end of the period of the Judges. Overall, 1 Samuel 8 is an important chapter in the book of 1 Samuel, as it marks a major transition in Israel's history. It is a reminder that God is sovereign, and that He will allow us to make our own choices, even if they are not in line with His will.