1 Samuel 8:5

And 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.

And said {H559} unto him, Behold, thou art old {H2204}, and thy sons {H1121} walk {H1980} not in thy ways {H1870}: now make {H7760} us a king {H4428} to judge {H8199} us like all the nations {H1471}.

and said to him, "Look, you have grown old, and your sons are not following your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

โ€œLook,โ€ they said, โ€œyou are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.โ€

and they 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.

Commentary

In 1 Samuel 8:5, the elders of Israel confront Samuel, the revered prophet and last judge, with a demand that marks a pivotal moment in their nation's history. They express dissatisfaction with Samuel's age and, more significantly, with the corrupt behavior of his sons, Joel and Abiah, who had taken bribes and perverted justice (1 Samuel 8:3). Their solution? They want a king, just like all the surrounding nations, to judge and lead them.

Context

This verse is set at the end of the period of the Judges, a time characterized by spiritual decline and cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. Samuel had faithfully served as a judge and prophet, guiding Israel back to God. However, his sons did not follow his righteous example, creating a crisis of leadership. The elders' demand for a king was not necessarily wrong in itself, as God had long before indicated that Israel would have kings (Deuteronomy 17:14-15). The problem lay in their motivation: they wanted to be "like all the nations," desiring a visible, earthly ruler rather than trusting in God's unique system of governance, a theocracy. This desire to conform to the world rather than maintaining their distinct identity as God's chosen people reveals a deeper spiritual issue.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of God's Theocracy: While seemingly a request for human leadership, God later tells Samuel that the people have not rejected Samuel, but "they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them" (1 Samuel 8:7). They preferred a king they could see over the unseen King of kings.
  • Desire for Conformity: The phrase "like all the nations" is central. Israel was called to be a distinct people, a light to the Gentiles, but here they express a desire to blend in and adopt the governmental structures of their pagan neighbors.
  • Failure of Succession: The corruption of Samuel's sons highlights the challenge of maintaining godly leadership across generations and the impact of unrighteous leaders.
  • Human Impatience vs. Divine Timing: The elders' demand reflects an impatience with God's timing and method for their nation's future, opting for a seemingly immediate human solution.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "make us a king to judge us" (ืฉึดื‚ื™ืžึธื”ึพืœึธึผื ื•ึผ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ืœึฐืฉึธืืคึฐื˜ึตื ื•ึผ, *simah-lanu melekh l'shoftenu*) is significant. The verb "judge" (ืฉึธืืคึทื˜, *shaphat*) here goes beyond merely arbitrating disputes; it encompasses ruling, governing, and leading, which were functions of both judges and kings. Their desire was for a monarch who would consolidate power and provide military and political stability, similar to the kings of surrounding empires.

Practical Application

This passage offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Trusting God's Sovereignty: Do we, like ancient Israel, sometimes seek human solutions or worldly systems when God's plan seems slow or unconventional? The call is to trust in God's perfect will and timing, even when circumstances are challenging.
  • Avoiding Worldly Conformity: The temptation to be "like all the nations" is ever-present. Believers are called to be distinct, to live by God's values rather than conforming to the patterns of the world (Romans 12:2).
  • Integrity in Leadership: The failure of Samuel's sons underscores the critical importance of integrity for those in positions of spiritual or public leadership.
  • Discerning Motivations: It's crucial to examine the heart behind our desires and requests. Are they rooted in faith and seeking God's glory, or in fear, impatience, or a desire for human-centric solutions?
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 17:14 (6 votes)

    ยถ When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that [are] about me;

  • Deuteronomy 17:15 (6 votes)

    Thou shalt in any wise set [him] king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: [one] from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which [is] not thy brother.

  • 1 Samuel 8:6 (3 votes)

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

  • 1 Samuel 8:8 (3 votes)

    According 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.

  • Hosea 13:10 (3 votes)

    I will be thy king: where [is any other] that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

  • Hosea 13:11 (3 votes)

    I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took [him] away in my wrath.

  • 1 Samuel 8:19 (3 votes)

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