1 Samuel 8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:17

He will take the tenth of your sheep ,.... As well as of their seed and vineyards; and not the tithe of their flocks only, but of their herds also, which are here included, as Kimchi observes: and ye shall be his servants : made slaves of by him, even as the Canaanitish servants were, according to Abarbinel; though others interpret it more mildly of their being obliged to pay tribute and taxes, for the support of his government. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:18

And ye shall cry out in that day, because of your king ,.... His power and pride, his oppression and tyranny, his heavy exactions, and intolerable yoke, and yet not be able to free themselves from them; all that they could do would be only to cry out under them as grievously distressed, and not knowing how to help themselves; and which would be the more aggravated, because they brought all this upon themselves, as it follows: which ye shall have chosen you ; for though the choice of a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:19

Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel ,.... The advice he gave not to think of a king, but be content with the government under which they were; but to this they would not hearken, notwithstanding all the inconveniences that would attend such a change: and they said, nay, but we will have a king over us ; they would not believe what Samuel said concerning a king, even though they were the words of the Lord he delivered to them; and though they knew Samuel was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:20

That we also may be like all the nations ,.... Even though they were slaves, like them; a king they would have, as they had, such was their stupidity. It was their greatest honour and glory, as well as happiness, not to be like other nations; as in their religion, laws, and liberties, so in their form of government; God being their King in such a peculiar sense as he was not of others, but with this they could not be content: and that our king may judge us ; hear their causes, administer... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:21

And Samuel heard all the words of the people ,.... 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, as in the next clause: and he rehearsed them in the ears of 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:22

And the Lord said to Samuel ,.... an audible voice, or by an impulse upon his mind: hearken unto their voice, and make them a king ; since they will have a king, let them have one, and let them know that they shall have one: and Samuel said unto the men of Israel : the elders of the people that addressed him on this occasion, 1 Samuel 8:4 . go ye every man unto his city ; signifying they might return in peace, and be assured their request would be granted, and a king would be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8

Samuel, grown old, makes his sons judges in Beer-sheba, 1 Samuel 8:1 , 1 Samuel 8:2 . They pervert judgment; and the people complain, and desire a king, 1 Samuel 8:3-5 . Samuel is displeased, and inquires of the Lord, 1 Samuel 8:6 . The Lord is also displeased; but directs Samuel to appoint them a king, and to show them solemnly the consequences of their choice, 1 Samuel 8:7-9 . Samuel does so; and shows them what they may expect from an absolute monarch, and how afflicted they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:1

When Samuel was old - Supposed to be about sixty. He made his sons judges - He appointed them as his lieutenants to superintend certain affairs in Beer-sheba, which he could not conveniently attend to himself. 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 7:16 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:3

His sons walked not in his ways - Their iniquity is pointed out in three words: They turned aside after lucre; the original ( בצע batsa ) signifies to cut, clip, break off; and therefore Mr. Parkhurst thinks that it means nearly the same with our clipping of coin. It however expresses here the idea of avarice, of getting money by hook or by crook. The Targum says, "They looked after דשקר ממון mamon dishkar , the mammon of unrighteousness;" of which they did not make... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:5

Make us a king - Hitherto, from the time in which they were a people, the Israelites were under a theocracy, they had no other king but God. Now they desire to have a king like the other nations around them, who may be their general in battle; for this is the point at which they principally aim. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:5

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