1 Samuel 8:3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:1-3

Two sad things we find here, but not strange things:?1. A good and useful man growing old and unfit for service (1 Sam. 8:1): Samuel was old, and could not judge Israel, as he had done. He is not reckoned to be past sixty years of age now, perhaps not so much; but he was a man betimes, was full of thoughts and cared when he was a child, which perhaps hastened the infirmities of age upon him. The fruits that are the first ripe keep the worst. He had spent his strength and spirits in the fatigue... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:3

And his sons walked not in his ways ,.... The meaning of which is not that they did not go the circuit he did, which is too low a sense of the words some Jewish writers give; but they did not walk in the fear of God, in the paths of religion and righteousness, truth and holiness; they neither served God, nor did justice to men, as Samuel had done: but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment ; indulged to covetousness, sought to get riches at any rate, took... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 8:3

His sons walked not in his ways - Their iniquity is pointed out in three words: They turned aside after lucre; the original ( בצע batsa ) signifies to cut, clip, break off; and therefore Mr. Parkhurst thinks that it means nearly the same with our clipping of coin. It however expresses here the idea of avarice, of getting money by hook or by crook. The Targum says, "They looked after דשקר ממון mamon dishkar , the mammon of unrighteousness;" of which they did not make... 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 8:3

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 8:3

1 Samuel 8:3. Took bribes Opportunity and temptation discovered that corruption in them which, till now, was hid from their father, and, it may be, from themselves. It has often been the grief of holy men, that their children did not tread in their steps. So far from it, that the sons of eminently good men have been often eminently wicked. 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 8:3

turned aside, &c.: i.e. stooped to extortion. took bribes: contrary to Deuteronomy 16:19 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 8:3

1 Samuel 8:3. And his sons walked not in his ways— Eli was punished for the wickedness of his sons, but Samuel was not; because it does not appear that the crimes of Samuel's sons were in any respect so flagrant as those of the sons of Eli, nor does it appear that Samuel knew of their crimes. They lived at a great distance from him, and might receive the bribes secretly: nor, further, does it appear, that he was wanting in a proper chastisement of them when he did know of their enormities; at... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 8:1-3

The occasion for requesting a king 8:1-3The people would probably not have pressed for a king at this time had Samuel’s sons proved as faithful to the Mosaic Covenant as their father had been. However, Joel ("Yahweh is God") and Abijah ("My [divine] Father is Yahweh") disqualified themselves from leadership in Israel by disobeying the Law (Exodus 23:6; Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19). Eli’s sons had done the same thing. Parental influence is important, but personal choices are even more... read more