1 Samuel 8:7-9

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 8:7

And the Lord said unto Samuel ,.... He appeared to him in a vision or dream, and by an articulate voice delivered to him what follows: hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee ; not as approving of what they said, but permitting and allowing what they asked, as a punishment of them for their disloyalty and ingratitude, and as resenting their ill behaviour to him; for it was in anger he assented to their request, Hosea 13:11 . for they have not rejected... read more

John Gill

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

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt ,.... This was no new thing; all that they had done since they were wonderfully favoured of God, as to be brought out of Egyptian bondage, was all of a piece with this; one continued series of ingratitude, of rebellion against God, and against his servants, that he employed under him, as Moses, Aaron, &c.; even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods ; this is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:9

Now therefore hearken unto their voice ,.... And appoint them a king as they desire: howbeit, yet protest solemnly unto them ; not against the thing itself, which was permitted, but against the evil of their request, as to the unseasonable time, ill manner, and unjustifiable reason, in and for which it was made; the Lord would have Samuel lay before them their evil in requesting it, and the evils that would follow upon it to them, and faithfully represent them to them, that they might be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:7

They have rejected me - They wish to put that government in the hands of a mortal, which was always in the hands of their God. But hearken unto their voice - grant them what they request. So we find God grants that in his displeasure which he withholds in his mercy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:9

Show them the manner of the king - The word משפט mishpat , which we here render manner, signifies simply what the king would and might require, according to the manner in which kings in general ruled; all of whom, in those times, were absolute and despotic. The whole of this manner of the king is well illustrated by Puffendorf. "Hitherto," says he, "the people of Israel had lived under governors raised up of God, who had exacted no tribute of them, nor put them to any... 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 8:7

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 8:7

1 Samuel 8:7. The Lord said, Hearken unto the people, &c. He grants their desire in anger, for their punishment. For these, it is plain, are the words of displeasure, being as much as to say, Let them have their will. Samuel took it very ill that they should be dissatisfied with his government: but God tells him that he himself had more reason to be angry. For, in truth, they had thrown off his authority who was their king, as Samuel tells them afterward, 1 Samuel 12:12; and who had... read more

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