1 Samuel 8

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 8

1¶ And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beersheba.

3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4¶ Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

7And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

10And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots.

12And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.

14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants.

15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work.

17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

22And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Samuel, old and with corrupt sons, faces a demand from Israel's elders for a king, like other nations. Displeased, Samuel prays, and the LORD reveals that the people have rejected Him, not Samuel. The LORD instructs Samuel to warn them of the king's oppressive nature, yet ultimately permits their request for a monarch.

Medium Summary

As Samuel ages, his sons, Joel and Abiah, serve as corrupt judges, taking bribes and perverting judgment. This prompts the elders of Israel to gather and demand a king, desiring to be like other nations and to have a leader who will judge them and fight their battles. Samuel is displeased by this request and seeks the LORD's counsel. The LORD informs Samuel that the people's rejection is not of him, but of God's direct reign over them, echoing their past unfaithfulness. The LORD then instructs Samuel to solemnly warn the people about the oppressive nature of a king, detailing how a monarch would conscript their sons, take their daughters for service, seize their best lands, and levy heavy taxes. Despite this stark warning, the people stubbornly insist on having a king. Samuel relays their refusal to the LORD, who then commands him to grant their desire and make them a king.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with Samuel, now old, appointing his sons, Joel and Abiah, as judges in Beersheba. However, his sons do not follow his righteous ways, instead turning aside after lucre, taking bribes, and perverting judgment. Consequently, all the elders of Israel gather and approach Samuel in Ramah, stating his age and his sons' corruption as reasons for their demand. They explicitly request a king to judge them, desiring to be like all the surrounding nations. This demand greatly displeases Samuel, who then prays to the LORD for guidance. The LORD responds, instructing Samuel to heed the people's voice, clarifying that their rejection is not of Samuel personally, but rather a rejection of the LORD's direct reign over them. The LORD draws a parallel between this request and Israel's historical pattern of forsaking Him and serving other gods since their exodus from Egypt. Despite granting their request, the LORD commands Samuel to solemnly protest and explain the oppressive "manner of the king" who would rule over them. Samuel then relays this divine warning to the people, detailing how a king would conscript their sons for military service and labor, take their daughters for various domestic roles, seize their finest fields, vineyards, and oliveyards, and impose a tenth of their produce and livestock. He further warns that the king would take their servants and best young men for his own work, ultimately making them his servants, and that their future cries for relief would go unheard by the LORD. Nevertheless, the people adamantly refuse to obey Samuel's warning, reiterating their desire for a king to judge them, lead them in battle, and enable them to be like other nations. Samuel brings their persistent words back to the LORD. Finally, the LORD instructs Samuel to again listen to their voice and proceed to make them a king, after which Samuel dismisses the men of Israel to their respective cities.

Core Concepts

  • Corrupt LeadershipSamuel's sons, Joel and Abiah, are appointed judges but fail to follow their father's righteous path, instead taking bribes and perverting justice. This corruption serves as a catalyst for the people's demand for a new form of governance.
  • Desire for MonarchyThe elders of Israel demand a king, explicitly stating their wish to be "like all the nations" and to have a leader who will judge them and fight their battles. This reflects a shift from a theocratic system to a human monarchy.
  • Rejection of TheocracyThe LORD interprets Israel's demand for a king as a rejection of His direct reign over them, rather than a personal slight against Samuel. This highlights the theological implication of their request, moving away from divine rule.
  • Warning of Royal OppressionSamuel, under divine instruction, solemnly warns the people about the burdensome nature of a king, detailing how a monarch would conscript their sons and daughters, seize their lands, and levy heavy taxes, effectively making them servants. This serves as a prophetic caution against the consequences of human kingship.
  • People's StubbornnessDespite Samuel's clear and divinely-inspired warning about the king's oppressive practices, the people stubbornly refuse to obey, reiterating their desire for a king to conform to the practices of surrounding nations. Their insistence underscores their resolve for a human ruler.
  • Divine ConcessionUltimately, the LORD instructs Samuel to grant the people's request for a king, even though it represents a rejection of His direct rule. This demonstrates God's allowance for human will, even when it deviates from His ideal.