1 Samuel 8:6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:4-22

We have here the starting of a matter perfectly new and surprising, which was the setting up of kingly government in Israel. Perhaps the thing had been often talked of among them by those that were given to change and affected that which looked great. But we do not find that it was ever till now publicly proposed and debated. Abimelech was little better than a titular king, though he is said to reign over Israel (Jdg. 9:22), and perhaps his fall had for a great while rendered the title of king... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:6

But the thing displeased Samuel ,.... Not that they called him an old man, and suggested that he was incapacitated for his office, nor for observing the unbecoming walk of his sons, but for what follows: when they said, give us a king to judge us ; what displeased him was, that they were for changing their form of government, not only to remove it from him, and his sons, but from the Lord himself, who was king over them; the ill consequences of which, many of them at least, he easily... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:6

The thing displeased Samuel - Because he saw that this amounted to a formal renunciation of the Divine government. Samuel prayed unto the Lord - He begged to know his mind in this important business. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:1-9

Discontent with God's methods. The facts are— 1 . In Samuel's old age his sons, being judges over Israel, abuse their office by accepting bribes. 2 . This fact is adduced by the people as a reason for asking Samuel to make them a king. 3 . Samuel in his grief seeks counsel of God. 4 . Samuel is instructed to yield to their request, while protesting against it. 5 . The conduct of the people is declared to be an expression of the perverse tendency characteristic of their... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 8:6

See the margin which implies that the thing spoken of caused anger, indignation, or some revulsion of feeling (see Genesis 21:11-12). The answer of the Lord 1 Samuel 8:7 shows that Samuel’s personal feelings had been hurt. They were soothed by being reminded of the continued ingratitude of the people to God Himself, upon whom, in fact, a greater slight was put by this very request for a king “like all the nations,” than upon Samuel (compare Matthew 10:24; John 15:18, John 15:20). For a comment... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 8:6

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:1-22

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 8:6

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

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