1 Samuel 8:7 NKJV,NLT

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

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

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

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

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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 8:7

1 Samuel 8:7. They have rejected me, &c.— Samuel had now, by a wise and painful direction of affairs, restored the purity of religion, and rescued the nation from the power of the Philistines, and their other hostile neighbours, against whom they were utterly unable to make head when he entered upon the administration. At this very time, the people, debauched as usual by power and prosperity, took the pretence of the corrupt conduct of the prophet's two sons, to go in a tumultuous manner... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 8:1-22

1. The demand for a king ch. 8The Israelites had pressed their leaders for a king at least twice in their past history. The first time was during Gideon’s judgeship (Judges 8:22), and the second was during Abimelech’s conspiracy (Judges 9:2). Now in Samuel’s judgeship they demanded one again. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 8:4-9

The reason for requesting a king 8:4-9God had made provision for kings to rule His people in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 17:14-20; cf. Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 17:6; Genesis 17:16; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 49:10). The request in itself was not what displeased Samuel and God. It was the reason they wanted a king that was bad. On the one hand, it expressed dissatisfaction with God’s present method of providing leadership through judges (1 Samuel 8:7). On the other, it verbalized a desire to be... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:4-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:7

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

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:7

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

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:1-22

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 8:7

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 8:1-22

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 8:4-9

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