1 Samuel 8:12-17

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 8:12

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:14

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards ,.... Which includes the whole increase of their land, their corn, and wine, and oil; and it is these, the fruits of their fields, vineyards, and oliveyards, which are here meant; for otherwise kings might not, and did not by their absolute authority, take away those from their subjects; otherwise Ahab would have taken away Naboth's vineyard at once, nor would Jezebel have needed to have taken such a method she did, to put... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:15

And he will take the tenth of your seed ,.... When grown up and ripe, as their wheat and barley: and of your vineyards ; the tenth of the grapes they should produce: and give to his officers, and to his servants ; for the support and maintenance of them; and to pay this, besides the tithes of the priests and Levites, would make it very burdensome to them; and this was no other than what kings of other nations usually had, the like to whom they were desirous of having, and therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:16

And he will take your manservants, and your maidservants ,.... Into his own family, for his own use and service, if he wants them, or likes them better than what he has: and your goodliest young men : that are tall and lusty, comely and beautiful, of a proper stature and good aspect; and such in all countries used to be chosen for officers in courts, or attendants there; and so the Turks to this day pitch upon young men to attend on great personages, who are of a comely form, have... read more

John Gill

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

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 8:12

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

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