1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8:1-3

Israel’s good days seldom continue long. We have here, 1. Samuel desiring, ver. 1. 2. His sons degenerating, ver. 2. 3. 3. Israel’s petition to Samuel for a king, ver. 4. 5. 4. Samuel’s prayer and God’s answer, ver. 7—18. 5. Their petition inflicted on, ver. 19, 20. 6. A promise of a king is made them, ver. 21, 22.

1. A ND it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2. Now the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-theba. 3. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after barter, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Samuel now began to sink under age and infirmities, and being no longer able to undergo the fatigue, appoints his sons afflicted judges; not out of partiality for them, we may hope, but because they were best qualified, had a good education, and promised to tread in his steps; but they sadly degenerated from their father’s example, being fixed as Beer-theba, at a distance from him, for the convenience of that part of the country, they took bribes, and perverted judgment; deciding in favour not of him who had most right, but most money. Note, (1.) Old age will put a period to our usefulness, therefore, before the evil days come, what our hand findeth to do, let us do it with our might. (2.) A good education does not always produce a gracious conduct; nor a pious father true that his virtues to his children. (3.) Though outward decency may be kept up, under the eye of a careful inspector, when the heart is unconvented, distance quickly removes the restraint, and the inward corruption appears. (4.) Covetoudes is among the most dangerous foures to the soul. (5.) A corrupt judge is a great cure to any people.

4. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah. 5. And Vol. I.

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 ’the, 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: ‘Somebody 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 borkmen, and some shall run before his chariots. 12. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fences, 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 olive-yards, 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 most servants, and your most servants, and your goodfied young men, and your allies, 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. Neverthebel: 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.

1 Samuel 8:4-22

We have here a motion made for the alteration of the government, and the introduction of monarchy among the Jewish people.

1. Taking occasion from the ill conduct of Samuel’s sons, some intriguing spirits excite the people in general to a change of government, and for this purpose they assemble in a body at Ramah, with a remembrance of their governors, and a petition for redress in the appointment of a king over them, like the nations around them, that he might keep a court, and appear in flute and dignity amongst them. A request not only highly sinful against God, but most ungrateful to Samuel, whose own administration had been so upright, and who deferred no blame for his son’s ill conduct, having given them better advice, and being ready to have superseded their commissions on the people’s just complaints. Note, It is not unusual for those to meet with ungrateful returns, and to be neglected when they are old, who have spent their lives in the service of the public.

2. Samuel deeply resents the proposal, not because of their ill usage of himself, but sensible of their great sin against God, and therefore are he returns an answer, he flutes to God for direction, and probably intercedes with him for their pardon, fearing least wrath should go forth against them. Note, (1.) When we are in difficulties, it is a great relief to have a God of wisdom and love to cry me. (2.) They who are so ungratefully, must have a remembrance in our prayer, not only to engage God to pardon them, but ourselves to forgive and love them.

3. God answers his prayer, and gives him directions what, to reply to the people. He must not be grieved at the initial offered him, since it was more aimed against God himself. He was their king, and is rejected by them; nor was their ingratitude to their governors a new thing: ever since they came from Egypt, they had acted thus; even to Moses and Aaron; nor was it to be wondered they sought a new king, when they had so often sought new gods: let them have therefore their request, but it shall be a king in anger, and of this Samuel must solemnly warn them; since they will be like the nations

4 G around Before Christ

4. Samuel makes a faithful report of the Divine message, admonishing them of God’s displeasure at their request, and the consequences which would follow from the establishment of that kingly government they were so set upon. They looked only to the pomp, but considered not they much bear the burden. Under his despotic sway, their sons would be enslaved, lifted in his guards as soldiers, or as footmen attendant on his chasing, or as servants employed to till and reap his ground. His table, covered with luxury, would require their daughters laborious service, to prepare for it provisions and delicacies: to gratify his favourites, or reward his officers, the instruments of his oppression, the best of their possessions would be plundered; which rivaling the tabernacle of God, another tenth of their increase must be paid for support of his grandeur. When these burdens were felt, they would complain, but in vain: God would justly reject their petitions, and leave them to the misery they had courted. Note, (1.) The gratification of our inordinate desires brings a plague along with it. (2.) They who rejected God, are justly rejected by him.

5. Far from desisting on this representation, they obstinately persevere in their demands, and will have a king, discrediting Samuel’s report; perhaps subjecting him of design. They will be like the nations, the slaves, and have a king to go before them to battle; though taught by late experience, how much better it was to have God to fight for them, than to fight for themselves. Note, (1.) No reproofs will restrain the obstinate sinner. (2.) The kindest advice is sometimes liable to be misrepresented as selfish and designing.

6. Samuel, at God’s command, confents to their request: having retired to wait upon God, and know his final resolution, he is commanded to assure them, they shall have a king, and bids them in the mean time return, and respect shortly to bear the nomination of the person God would chuse to reign in Israel.