1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8:1

F. A King Demanded and Chosen (Chaps. 8, 9)8:1-5 In his old age, Samuel tried to have his two sons succeed him as judges. But they were wicked men who accepted bribes and perverted justice. Like Eli before him, Samuel did not turn his sons from their evil ways, and so his house was rejected also. The elders of Israel refused to accept Joel and Abijah; they wanted a king instead, like the other nations. 8:6-18 It was God’s intention, of course, that He Himself should be the King of Israel. His people were to be holy, and not like any other nation on earth. But they didn’t want to be different; they wanted to conform to the world. Samuel was grieved by such a request, but the LORD told him to do as they said. After all, they had not rejected the prophet, but the LORD. In agreeing to their wishes, Samuel was to protest solemnly and to forewarn them as to the behavior of the king they would get.

In brief, the king would enrich himself by impoverishing the people, would draft their young men and women for military and domestic duties, and would make virtual slaves of them. It was true that God had made provisions for the rule of kings in the law (Deu_17:14-20), but His perfect will was that He Himself should be their King (8:7; 1Sa_12:12). These laws in Deuteronomy were meant to curb the evil that was sure to follow. 8:19-22 When the people persisted in their demand, despite the warning, the Lord again told Samuel to do as they asked and make them a king. The prophet then sent the people home. Soon they would have their king.