1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:1 Transition to the Monarchy. Chapter 1 Samuel 8:1 is a turning point in OT history, marking Israel’s transition from judgeship to kingship. Until now the people had depended on the Lord to raise up judges to lead them as needed, but now they want a monarchy. Samuel’s son... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:2 BEERSHEBA was the extreme south of Israel in traditional descriptions (see 1 Samuel 3:20). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:3 TURNED ASIDE AFTER GAIN... TOOK BRIBES AND PERVERTED JUSTICE. Such self-serving practices by leaders are criticized repeatedly in the Bible. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:4 APPOINT FOR US A KING... LIKE ALL THE NATIONS. Samuel had appointed judges. The elders, recognizing his authority, ask for a king. They want to exchange their unique position as the people of the incomparable God (1 Samuel 2:2) to be “like all the nations.” The law had... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:6 THE THING DISPLEASED SAMUEL. Literally, “the thing was evil in Samuel’s eyes.” It was more than just a personal sense of rejection. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:9 The Lord told Samuel to SOLEMNLY WARN the people about THE WAYS OF THE KING, since they so desperately wanted their own king. Some of the things Samuel warned about were the normal cost of running a large central government, but others were clearly abuses of power (see... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:11 Having men RUN BEFORE HIS CHARIOTS was a status symbol. Both Absalom and Adonijah had a chariot, horses, horsemen, and 50 runners to run before them (2 Samuel 15:1; 1 Kings 1:5). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length,... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:12 The COMMANDERS OF THOUSANDS AND COMMANDERS OF FIFTIES were probably permanent officers over soldiers forced to serve. The king will also force people to make weapons, prepare his food, and provide him with luxuries (PERFUMERS AND COOKS AND BAKERS). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images =... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:14 THE BEST OF YOUR FIELDS AND VINEYARDS AND OLIVE ORCHARDS. Rather than serving the people without seeking self-enrichment (as Samuel did, 1 Samuel 12:3), the king would use his power to “take” the best for himself and those around him (1 Samuel 8:11). SERVANTS refers to... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:17 YOU SHALL BE HIS SLAVES. The Israelites and all their possessions would be subject to the king’s use. Forced labor (see 1 Kings 5:13) would probably be the most objectionable form of this “slavery.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:19 “We,” “us,” and “our” appear frequently in this short speech. The king’s functions are (1) to give influence and status LIKE ALL THE NATIONS; (2) to JUDGE US (2 Samuel 15:2; 1 Kings 3:16; Psalms 72:1); and (3) to GO OUT BEFORE US AND FIGHT OUR BATTLES—that is, be a war... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 8:22 MAKE THEM A KING. The Lord grants the people’s demands, even though it means that they have rejected him (v. 1 Samuel 8:7). By raising up David’s dynasty, God will bring good out of Israel’s sinful desire for a king. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("i... [ Continue Reading ]