1 Samuel 8:10-13

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 8:10

And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto them ,.... How he considered this request of theirs as a rejection of him as their king, and that it was acting the same ungrateful part they had always done; and since they were so importunate to have it granted, it should be done; but that he was ordered to lay before them all the inconveniences that would attend it, and the evils that would follow upon it unto them: that asked of him a king ; which is observed, not to distinguish a part... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:11

And he said, this will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you ,.... Not in which he ought to proceed, but what he will do: and this not the manner of one king, or of the first only, but of all of them, more or less; of kings in general, who are commonly inclined to arbitrary power. So Aristotle F1 In Politicis, l. 3. c. 16. in opposition to theocracy, describes a full and absolute kingdom, as he calls it, when a king does all things according to his will: and observes,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:12

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties ,.... Which though posts of honour, yet when they are not matter of choice, and especially being precarious, and depending on the arbitrary will of a prince, are not eligible, and less so to persons that choose another sort of life: and will set them to ear his ground ; to plough it; not the same persons made captains of thousands and fifties, but others, whom he will employ in tilling and manuring his fields,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:13

And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries ,.... Such as deal in spices, and mix them, and make them up in various forms very agreeable to the taste. Men are commonly in our countries and times employed in such arts, but it seems this was the business of women in those times and places. Some versions F4 So V. L. and Tigurine. render it "unguentariae", makers or sellers of ointments, and such there were in some nations F5 Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 5. , such was... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 8:12

This organization was as old as the time of Moses Numbers 31:14; Deuteronomy 1:15, and prevailed among the Philistines also 1 Samuel 29:2. The civil and military divisions were identical, and the civil officers were the same as the captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, in time of war.To ear his ground - literally, “to plow his plowing.” “To ear” is an old English word, now obsolete, for to plow. read more

Group of Brands