1 Samuel 8-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 8

Things went so very well with Israel, in the chapter before, under Samuel's administration, that, methinks, it is a pity to find him so quickly, as we do in this chapter, old, and going off, and things working towards a revolution. But so it is; Israel's good days seldom continue long. We have here, I. Samuel decaying, 1 Sam. 8:1. II. His sons degenerating, 1 Sam. 8:2, 3. III. Israel discontented with the present government and anxious to see a change. For 1. They petition Samuel to set a king... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

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

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 8 This chapter relates, how that Samuel being old, and his sons behaving ill, the people desired to have a king set over them, 1 Samuel 8:1 , which case Samuel laid before the Lord, and he was directed by him to yield to the people's desire, but at the same time to set before them all the disadvantages and ill consequences that would arise from thence, which he did, 1 Samuel 8:6 , but they insisting upon it, nevertheless, he gave them reason to expect that... read more

John Gill

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

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old ,.... The common notion of the Jews is, that he lived but fifty two years F20 Seder Olam Rabba, ut supra. (c. 13. p. 35.) ; when a man is not usually called an old man, unless the infirmities of old age came upon him sooner than they commonly do, through his indefatigable labours from his childhood, and the cares and burdens of government he had long bore; though some think he was about sixty years of age; and Abarbinel is of opinion that he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:2

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel ,.... In 1 Chronicles 6:28 he is called Vashni; See Gill on 1 Chronicles 6:28 . This was not Joel the prophet, as some have thought, neither his parentage, nor his office, nor his times, will agree with this: and the name of his second Abiah : which two sons seem to be all he had: they were judges in Beersheba ; in the utmost border of the land, to the south, as Ramah, where Samuel dwelt and judged, was more to the north; where they were... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:4

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together ,.... At some place of rendezvous appointed; these were the heads of the tribes, and fathers of the houses and families of Israel, the principal persons of age and authority: and came to Samuel unto Ramah ; the place of his nativity and abode, and where he now dwelt, and judged Israel; they went in a very respectable body with an address to him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:5

And said unto him, behold, thou art old ,.... See 1 Samuel 8:1 , his age was no reproach to him, nor was it becoming them to upbraid him with it; nor was it a reason why he should be removed from his office, for it did not disqualify him for it; but rather, having gained by age experience, was more fit for it, though he might not be able to ride his circuits as formerly: and thy sons walk not in thy ways ; whom he had made judges; this is a better reason than the former for what is... 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

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