1 Samuel 8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:3

His sons …took bribes. This sin was expressly forbidden in Exodus 23:6 , Exodus 23:8 ; Deuteronomy 16:19 , and it marks the high spirit of the nation that it was so indignant at justice being thus perverted. They walked not in his way (singular—so the written text); for Samuel's own administration of justice had been most upright ( 1 Samuel 12:4 ), nor is it laid to his charge that he connived at the misconduct of his sons. On the contrary, after remonstrance indeed, not for his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:4-5

The elders of Israel. Here, as elsewhere ( 1 Samuel 15:30 :2Sa 1 Samuel 5:3 ; 1 Kings 8:3 , etc.), we have traces of a popular assembly, representing the Israelite nation, and composed probably of the chiefs and heads of fathers houses. Already in Egypt ( Exodus 3:16 , etc.) we find stone such body in existence, and it seems to have lasted throughout the whole history of the nation; for it outlived the monarchy, gained increased power after the exile, and continued down to New... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:6

But the thing displeased Samuel, and justly so. For, in the first place, they had determined to have a king without consulting the will of God. Granting that it would give them the security necessary for the nation's welfare and progress, yet so weighty a matter ought not to have been decided without an appeal to Jehovah. Samuel did make it a matter of prayer; the elders were actuated solely by political motives. And, secondly, they undervalued their own religious privileges. They wanted a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:6

The benefit of prayer. "And Samuel prayed unto the Lord." The blessings obtained in answer to prayer are real and manifold. Some of them are outward and material—daily bread, health, safety, life. God is "in all, above all, and through all," the personal and free Ruler of the universe, and able to grant our petitions for temporal good in harmony with the established order of nature. The mind and will of man can produce changes in the material world without disturbing that order; much more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:7

In prayer then the answer came to him that the request of the people must be granted, however wrongly it had been urged. In itself it was wrong; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. As we saw above, they wanted no theocratic king, whose first duty would be to maintain the Mosaic law ( Deuteronomy 17:18 , Deuteronomy 17:19 ), and protect the priest and prophet in the discharge of their legitimate functions; all they wanted was a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:8-9

According to all the works, etc. They showed in this the same want of respect and affection for their own institutions and religious privileges which had marked all their history since the day when Jehovah brought them up out of Egypt. And therefore Samuel was to protest solemnly unto them, and show them. The two verbs do not mean different things, but the same. "To protest" is to testify, to bear witness, and warn them of the danger they were incurring. And as they were asking not for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:10-22

Permitted, not approved. The facts are— 1 . Samuel points out to the people that their desired king will aggrandise himself at their expense, and that, once entering on their course, there will be no deliverance. 2 . The people, nevertheless, decide to have a king, and assign the motive of their preference. 3 . Samuel, on laying the matter before God, receives a command to make them a king. The question at issue was not whether this or that form of government was intrinsically... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:11

This will be the manner of the king. On the meaning of this word see 1 Samuel 2:13 . Here also it signifies not so much the legal right itself, as the way in which that right was exercised. His chariots. The word is singular, both here and at the end of the verse, and though it may be taken, as in the A.V for a collective noun, "his chariotry," yet the singular is better, because this verse does not refer to war, but to the personal magnificence and grandeur of the king. Instead of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:12

Captains over thousands, and captains over fifties. The largest and smallest divisions respectively of an Israelite, army. However objectionable the king's personal state might be, this would fall in with the people's wishes, for it would give them the promise of a well organised army. Not so the next clause, to ear i.e. to plough— his ground. Forced labour was one of the most unjust, oppressive, and wasteful exactions of absolute governments, and was the chief cause of the revolt of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:13

Confectionaries. Rather, "perfumers," makers of ointments and scents, of which Orientals are excessively fond. It is remarkable that Samuel does not mention the far worse use to which Solomon put their daughters ( 1 Kings 11:3 ), and to a less extent David and some other kings. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:10-22

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:12

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:13

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