1 Samuel 8:1-22

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 sons were causing problems, but instead of rejecting these hereditary judges and demanding that better judges be appointed, the people ask for a hereditary kingship. As threats from their enemies resumed (v. 1 Samuel 8:20; 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 12:12), they may have felt the need for stronger and more permanent leadership. But the text suggests that they simply wanted to have their own king, “like all the nations” around them. In doing so, they were rejecting the Lord as their true king (1 Samuel 8:7).