1 Samuel 8:6. The thing displeased Samuel Because God was hereby dishonoured, through that distrust of him, and that ambition, and itch after changes, which were the manifest causes of this desire; and because of that great misery which he foresaw the people would hereby bring upon themselves. Prayed For the pardon of their sin, and direction and help from God in this great affair. read more
Click image for full-size version8:1-12:25 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHYThe people ask for a king (8:1-22)Israel’s history continued to follow the pattern set out in the book of Judges. Once the God-appointed judge (in this case, Samuel) was no longer able to exercise control over the nation (for Samuel was old and his sons who succeeded him as judges were worthless), the people turned from God and drifted into wrongdoing (8:1-3).In search for stability within the nation, the people asked... read more
Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . make us a king . Compare Hosea 13:10 , Hosea 13:11 .Acts 13:20 , Acts 13:21 . Note the words "gave judges "and "desired a king". The Hebrew monarchy thus began with the choosing of Saul, and ended with the choosing of Caesar. read more
displeased = was evil in the eyes of: i.e. evil, in not waiting for God's time and for God's king, as promised. Genesis 17:6 , Genesis 17:16 ; Genesis 35:11 ; Genesis 49:10 . Numbers 24:17 . Deuteronomy 17:14-20 . the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 . read more
6-10. the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us—Personal and family feelings might affect his views of this public movement. But his dissatisfaction arose principally from the proposed change being revolutionary in its character. Though it would not entirely subvert their theocratic government, the appointment of a visible monarch would necessarily tend to throw out of view their unseen King and Head. God intimated, through Samuel, that their request would, in... read more
1. The demand for a king ch. 8The Israelites had pressed their leaders for a king at least twice in their past history. The first time was during Gideon’s judgeship (Judges 8:22), and the second was during Abimelech’s conspiracy (Judges 9:2). Now in Samuel’s judgeship they demanded one again. read more
The reason for requesting a king 8:4-9God had made provision for kings to rule His people in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 17:14-20; cf. Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 17:6; Genesis 17:16; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 49:10). The request in itself was not what displeased Samuel and God. It was the reason they wanted a king that was bad. On the one hand, it expressed dissatisfaction with God’s present method of providing leadership through judges (1 Samuel 8:7). On the other, it verbalized a desire to be... read more
The People demand a King1. Judges] They would be subordinate to their father. When the son of a Judge was influential and popular, he might easily succeed to his father’s position: cp. A bimelech in Judges 9:1.5. Like all the nations] This was the sin of the people. God intended that they, unlike other nations, should be a peculiar people, governed directly by Himself.6. Displeased Samuel] They had shown themselves forgetful of their relation to God and ungrateful to Samuel himself. But in... read more
See on 1 Samuel 9:1. There are clearly two accounts of the institution of the kingship. In 1 Samuel 8, the wish for a king is regarded as a sign of disloyalty to the real King, Jehovah, and, as such, Samuel protests against it. In 1 Samuel 9 - 1 Samuel 10:16, Jehovah himself chooses Saul to deliver his people from the Philistines: cp. Intro. § 2. read more
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 8:5
1 Samuel 8:5. Make us a king Their desires exceed their reasons, which extended no farther than the removal of Samuel’s sons from their places, and the procuring some other just and prudent assistance to Samuel’s age. Nor was the grant of their desire a remedy for their disease, but rather an aggravation of it. For the sons of their king were likely to be as corrupt as Samuel’s sons; and, if they were, would not be so easily removed. Like other nations That is, as most of the nations... read more