1 Samuel 8:1-5. Request of the people for a king 1. _when Samuel was old_ A considerable time, probably not much less than 20 years, must have elapsed since the victory of Ebenezer, before Samuel required the help of his sons on the ground of old age, and some years more before their misgovernment... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the name_, &c. Joel = "Jehovah is God:" Abiah = "Jah is my father:" names significant of a protest against the prevalent idolatry. The text of 1 Chronicles 6:28, where the names are given as "the firstborn Vashni and Abiah," is corrupt. "Joel" has dropped out after "the firstborn," and "Vashni... [ Continue Reading ]
_turned aside after Lucre_ From the _straight-forward_path of their father's example. _Lucre_(from Lat. lucrum) is only used in the E. V. in a bad sense of _ill-gotten gain_. _took bribes and perverted judgment_ The same phrases are coupled together in Deuteronomy 16:19, though differently translat... [ Continue Reading ]
_the elders of Israel_ Acting as representatives of the people, 1 Samuel 8:7_; 1 Samuel 8:10; 1 Samuel 8:19; 1 Samuel 8:22_. In a patriarchal system of government the Elders or heads of families are the natural authorities. Even before the Exodus Israel possessed an organization of Elders, to whom... [ Continue Reading ]
_make us a king_ Lit. _set_, i.e. APPOINT, the same word as in the corresponding passage, Deuteronomy 17:14. _like all the nations_ i.e. as all the surrounding nations have kings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah's answer to the request 6. _the thing displeased Samuel_ 1 Samuel 8:7 implies that Samuel's displeasure arose from a feeling of the ingratitude of the Israelites toward himself in desiring that one who had done so much for them should be superseded by a king. God's answer, "Not thee (their... [ Continue Reading ]
_so do they also unto thee_ Cp. John 15:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore hearken_ Or, AND NOW. There is no inference -because they reject me and thee, _therefore_, &c.," but the command of 1 Samuel 8:7 is repeated. For the reasons why the request was granted, see Introduction, ch. iv. § 4.... [ Continue Reading ]
The rights of a king 10. _unto the people_ Through their representatives the elders. Cp. note on 1 Samuel 8:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
_This will be the manner of the king_ Or, "the right of the king;" such prerogatives as an absolute monarch claims. We have here a vivid picture of the tyranny of an Oriental despot whose subjects are at his disposal for (1) court retainers, (2) military officers, (3) cultivators of the royal estat... [ Continue Reading ]
_captains over thousands and captains over fifties_ The Sept. reads "captains of hundreds and captains of thousands," which are the usual military divisions (ch. 1 Samuel 22:7; Numbers 31:14): but the Heb. text is to be preferred as mentioning the highest and the lowest offices. Cp. 2 Kings 1:9 ff.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to be confectionaries_ The original form of "_confectioner_" not however in its modern sense, but = "_one who makes confections_" (Exodus 30:35), i.e. compounds of spices and perfumes, a PERFUMER.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he will take your fields_&c. Cp. 1 Kings 21:7; Ezekiel 46:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
_officers_ Or, CHAMBERLAINS.... [ Continue Reading ]
_your goodliest young men_ "Young men" in the Heb. appears to be a copyist's error, and we should probably adopt the Sept. reading " CATTLE. " Men-servants and maid-servants, cattle and asses, are then coupled together naturally. Cp. Exodus 20:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and ye shall be his servants_ To sum up all briefly, ye will be _slaves_to the king ye have chosen.... [ Continue Reading ]
_because of your king_ Or, " FROM your king," appealing to God to escape from his tyranny. _will not hear you_ Rather, WILL NOT ANSWER YOU. The Sept adds "because ye have chosen yourselves a king.... [ Continue Reading ]
Reply of the people 19. _Nevertheless_ Simply AND.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that our king may judge us and go out before us_ The king was to unite the duties of (1) government of the nation in time of peace, and (2) leadership of the army in time of war.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he rehearsed them_ i.e. repeated them. -Rehearse" is derived from Fr. _reherser_, to harrow over again. Samuel once more laid the matter before Jehovah in prayer, and again received the same answer. This narrative is in close connexion with ch. 1 Samuel 10:17-27. The intervening section, possibly... [ Continue Reading ]