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Israel Demands a King
8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
Samuel’s Warning Against Kings
So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking for a king from him. He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”
The Lord Grants Israel’s Request
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
(ESV)
1 Samuel 8 Commentary
In 1 Samuel 8, Samuel has grown old and has appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, as judges over Israel. But they turned to dishonesty, taking bribes and perverting justice (1 Samuel 8:1-3). The elders of Israel gathered and asked Samuel to appoint a king, as they wanted to be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:4-5).
Samuel was troubled by their request and prayed to the Lord. God revealed that the people had rejected Him as their king (1 Samuel 8:6-7). The Lord instructed Samuel to warn the people about the rights of a king (1 Samuel 8:8-9). Samuel informed the people that a king would take their sons, daughters, fields, servants, and a tenth of their resources, making them his servants (1 Samuel 8:10-17).
Despite this warning, the people insisted on appointing a king to lead and fight their battles (1 Samuel 8:18-20). Samuel conveyed their words to the Lord, who instructed him to appoint a king (1 Samuel 8:21-22).
Judges -> Kings
1 Samuel 8 explores Israel’s demand for a king through a combination of political, military, and spiritual factors. The era of judges failed to produce a reliable system of leadership. Case in point: Samuel’s sons. However, this issue was not limited to this one example. We see it with others leaders such as Gideon and Eli. After their death, there was no one righteous to pick up the mantle.
Samuel, incredibly, led all of Israel. Scripture tells us this multiple times (1 Sam 3:20; 1 Sam 7:5-6; 1 Sam 7:15-16). The Lord had told Israel back in Deuteronomy that they were to appoint judges and officials in all their towns (Deut 16:18). Samuel’s leadership over all Israel was successful, so it makes sense that the people looked at Samuel as a natural bridge to a monarchy. If Samuel could do it, why couldn’t they have a king instead of localized judges?
From a military perspective, Israel considered the threats from their enemies severe enough to warrant a kingly leadership. This was no doubt influenced by the surrounding nations who already had kings leading their military programs. In fact, God predicted this back in Deuteronomy (Deut 17:14).
However, the most significant reason for Israel desiring a king came down to the fact that they had rejected God as their rightful King (1 Sam 8:20), a foreshadowing of humanity rejecting The King of Kings years later (Joh 3:19; Isa 53:3).
It’s Not You Samuel, It’s Me
Samuel played a pivotal role in securing peace and restoring Israel’s territories from the time of Judges when “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” The Philistines, who had been a constant threat, were finally subdued and did not invade Israel again during Samuel’s lifetime. The Lord’s hand was against the Philistines, leading to the recovery of cities from Ekron to Gath, which had previously been taken from them.
In addition, Israel regained control of surrounding territories that had been under Philistine control. This victory brought peace, not only with the Philistines but also with the Amorites, further stabilizing Israel’s borders. Samuel’s leadership brought about accomplishments that Israel had struggled for many years to achieve, highlighting his significant role in the nation’s restoration and peace (1 Sam 7:13-14).
After all of this, the people request a king. Why? The reason given is because Samuel’s sons are not walking in righteousness, but the real reason is because of the aforementioned point; they have rejected God. The Lord comforts Samuel with this truth. It’s not him (or his sons) they are rejecting; it is the Lord.
“The people forgot their covenant relation to Jehovah—that they were a peculiar nation, with a peculiar history and a peculiar mission. Such a demand showed ingratitude, distrust and disloyalty toward God. They wanted to better their government instead of reforming their character, and looked to legislation for help which could come only from righteousness.”
The Biblical Illustrator
The Warnings
Samuel warns the people, predicting exactly what will happen if they choose to continue down this path of electing a king.
- Forced military service: The king will take their sons for his chariots, cavalry, and as runners before his chariots (1 Samuel 8:11).
- Compulsory military and agricultural labor: Sons will be appointed as commanders, farmers for the king’s land, and weapon makers (1 Samuel 8:12).
- Forced service for women: Daughters will be taken to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers for the king (1 Samuel 8:13).
- Seizure of property: The king will take the best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants (1 Samuel 8:14).
- Heavy taxation: A tenth of their grain and vineyards will go to the king’s officials and servants (1 Samuel 8:15).
- Confiscation of workers and livestock: Male and female servants, young men, and donkeys will be taken for the king’s work (1 Samuel 8:16).
- Increased taxation on livestock: A tenth of their flocks will belong to the king (1 Samuel 8:17).
- Loss of freedom: The people themselves will become the king’s servants (1 Samuel 8:17).
- Divine silence in their suffering: When they cry out because of their king, the Lord will not answer them (1 Samuel 8:18).
This is quite an exhaustive and persuasive list. A pause would be wise, but the text tells us the people didn’t even listen to Samuel (1 Sam 8:19). It reminds me of our political culture today. People have so much bias that they cannot comprehend the truth, even when it is right in front of them. However, it is not limited to politics. It is the human condition, and it would play out the same way with Jesus.
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.”
Isaiah 53:3 CSB
God’s Love Through Volition
This is a demonstration of God’s love through volition. It is His willingness to let people make their own choices, even when those choices lead to pain. God granted Israel’s demand for a king, just as He has often allowed people to chase after their misguided desires. The result? Painful consequences.
- Like Hosea’s wife, who had a faithful husband yet ran back to her life of prostitution, trading love for ruin (Hos 3:1).
- Like the prodigal son, who abandoned his father’s house, squandered his inheritance, and found himself starving in the filth of a pigsty (Luk 15:11-16).
- Like Lot’s wife, who couldn’t let go of her past and turned back to Sodom – only to become a lifeless pillar of salt (Gen 19:26).
- Like the Israelites in the wilderness, who craved the food of their oppressors, so God gave them meat – until it became a curse in their mouths (Num 11:4-20).
- Like the rich young ruler, who had eternity offered to him but clung to his wealth, choosing temporary riches over everlasting treasure (Mat 19:16-22).
- Like Judas, who took thirty pieces of silver, only to realize too late that he had sold his soul along with his Savior (Mat 27:3-5).
The Bible is full of examples, and more than likely, you can think of some examples in your own life. Despite all of this, God continued to extend His grace. He continued to love Israel. He continued to woo humanity back into His loving arms. God allows us to stray – not because He stops loving us – but because sometimes the only way to teach is to let people experience the full weight of their choices. While we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. His love remains, always offering a way back.
We wanted a king. We needed a Savior. Jesus was both.
