1 Samuel 8:6

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

But the thing {H1697} displeased {H3415}{H5869} Samuel {H8050}, when they said {H559}, Give {H5414} us a king {H4428} to judge {H8199} us. And Samuel {H8050} prayed {H6419} unto the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sh'mu'el was not pleased to hear them say, "Give us a king to judge us"; so he prayed to ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 8:6 marks a pivotal and poignant moment in Israel's history, capturing the deep distress of the prophet Samuel as the elders of Israel demand a human king to "judge" them, just like all the surrounding nations. This request, perceived by Samuel as a profound rejection of God's direct rule over His people, prompts an immediate and characteristic response from the faithful judge: he turns to the LORD in prayer, seeking divine counsel in the face of this unprecedented national crisis. The verse encapsulates the tension between human desire for conformity and divine intention for uniqueness, setting the stage for Israel's transition from a theocracy led by judges to a monarchy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the elders of Israel's explicit demand for a king in [1 Samuel 8:5](/1_samuel/8-5 "1 Samuel 8:5 - Israel's Demand for a King"). Samuel, now old and with his sons having proven corrupt as judges, represented the last of the prophetic judges who had guided Israel for centuries. The people's request was not merely for a new leader, but for a fundamental shift in their national identity and governance, desiring to be "like all the nations" around them. This demand deeply troubled Samuel, who had faithfully served the LORD, even though God had previously spoken about the possibility of a king in [Deuteronomy 17:14-15](/deuteronomy/17-14 "Deuteronomy 17:14-15 - Law of the King"), setting specific conditions for such a ruler. Samuel's distress and subsequent prayer are crucial, as they lead directly to God's response in [1 Samuel 8:7](/1_samuel/8-7 "1 Samuel 8:7 - God's Interpretation of Israel's Request"), clarifying that the people's rejection was ultimately of God Himself, not merely Samuel.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** For centuries, Israel had existed as a unique theocracy, with God as their invisible King, mediated through judges and prophets. Surrounding nations, however, were typically governed by powerful, visible monarchs who commanded armies and administered justice. The Philistines, a formidable and persistent enemy, posed a constant threat, and Israel's desire for a strong, centralized military leader, like those of their neighbors, was a pragmatic, albeit faithless, response to this geopolitical reality. Their yearning to be "like all the nations" reflected a profound cultural conformity, valuing perceived security and status over their distinct covenant relationship with Yahweh. This desire for an earthly king, rather than trusting in God's providential care and leadership, marked a significant departure from their foundational identity as a people set apart.

* **Key Themes:** The verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within 1 Samuel and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **Rejection of God's Rule**: While on the surface it seemed like a rejection of Samuel's leadership or his corrupt sons, the underlying issue was a deeper spiritual rebellion. By demanding a human king "like all the nations," Israel was implicitly rejecting their unique covenant relationship with God, who had been their invisible King and ultimate ruler since the Exodus. This theme is explicitly confirmed by God in the following verse ([1 Samuel 8:7](/1_samuel/8-7 "1 Samuel 8:7 - God's Response to Israel's Rejection")), where He tells Samuel, "they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." This stands in stark contrast to earlier periods, such as when Gideon refused kingship, declaring, "[The LORD shall rule over you](/judges/8-23 "Judges 8:23 - Gideon's Refusal of Kingship")" ([Judges 8:23](/judges/8-23 "Judges 8:23 - Gideon's Refusal of Kingship")). Secondly, Samuel's immediate and instinctive reaction was to turn to the LORD in prayer, underscoring **Samuel's Righteous Response** and his consistent character as a faithful prophet and intercessor, always seeking divine counsel rather than acting on his own emotions or human wisdom. Finally, the people's desire to be "like all the nations" reveals **The Perils of Conformity**, demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of their chosen status and divine purpose. God intended Israel to be a distinct, holy nation, set apart by His direct rule. Their yearning for a human king, driven by a desire for earthly security and status, foreshadowed many future struggles and deviations from God's path, as seen in the subsequent history of the Israelite monarchy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **displeased (Hebrew, _ra'ah be'eynav'_):** The KJV phrase "the thing displeased Samuel" translates the Hebrew `ra'ah be'eynav` (רע בעיניו), which literally means "it was evil in his eyes" or "it grieved him." This conveys a strong sense of moral and spiritual distress, not just personal annoyance. Samuel understood the profound theological and covenantal implications of their request for Israel's relationship with God. It indicates a deep sorrow and disapproval from a spiritual perspective, recognizing the people's spiritual blindness and rebellion.
* **prayed (Hebrew, _palal'_):** The verb `palal` (פלל) means "to intercede, to mediate, to pray." This is Samuel's characteristic response to crises, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to seeking divine counsel and acting as an intermediary between God and His people. It signifies not a casual request, but an earnest, often agonized, turning to God for guidance and intervention in a moment of profound national significance. His prayer is an act of submission and trust in God's ultimate sovereignty.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the thing displeased Samuel":** This clause immediately highlights Samuel's profound emotional and spiritual reaction to the elders' demand. His displeasure was not merely personal offense at being rejected, but a deep grief stemming from his understanding of the covenant implications. He recognized that this request for a human king was a fundamental turning away from God's unique design for Israel as a theocracy.
* **"when they said, Give us a king to judge us":** This specifies the exact nature of the "thing" that displeased Samuel. The people's demand for a king was driven by a desire for a visible, earthly ruler "like all the nations," rather than trusting in God's invisible, divine rule. The phrase "to judge us" indicates their desire for both judicial and military leadership, a comprehensive transfer of authority from God and His appointed judges to a human monarch.
* **"And Samuel prayed unto the LORD":** This final clause reveals Samuel's immediate and faithful response to his distress. Rather than reacting in anger or despair, he turns directly to God in prayer. This act underscores his role as a prophet and intercessor, always seeking divine wisdom and guidance, and placing the nation's crisis squarely before the ultimate authority of the LORD. It demonstrates his reliance on God's sovereignty even when faced with profound human rebellion.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Contrast** and **Irony**. The most striking **Contrast** is between Samuel's faithful, prayerful response and the people's faithless, demanding request. Samuel, the last of the judges, embodies the ideal of a leader who consistently seeks God's will, while the people, by demanding a king "like all the nations," demonstrate a profound lack of trust in their unique divine covenant. Furthermore, there is **Irony** in the people's demand. They seek a king for security and stability, believing a human monarch will provide better leadership than God's direct rule or Samuel's appointed judges. However, the subsequent history of Israel's monarchy, marked by corruption, idolatry, division, and eventual exile, reveals that this pursuit of earthly security often led to greater instability and spiritual decline, ultimately failing to deliver the peace and prosperity they envisioned.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 8:6 serves as a critical juncture, illustrating the perennial tension between humanity's desire for visible, tangible leadership and God's design for a relationship of faith and dependence. The people's demand for a king, while seemingly pragmatic, was fundamentally a rejection of God's unique covenant with Israel, where He alone was their King. This episode highlights the dangers of conformity to worldly patterns and the profound implications of choosing human wisdom over divine guidance. Samuel's response, turning to prayer, exemplifies the proper posture of a believer in times of crisis: seeking God's will above all else, even when it contradicts popular opinion or personal preference. This narrative underscores God's sovereignty, His patience even in the face of human rebellion, and His ultimate ability to work His purposes through flawed human choices.

* [1 Samuel 8:7](/1_samuel/8-7 "1 Samuel 8:7 - God's Interpretation of Israel's Request")
* [Hosea 13:11](/hosea/13-11 "Hosea 13:11 - God's Reluctant Granting of a King")
* [Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seeking God's Kingdom First")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 8:6 offers a profound mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to examine the motivations behind our desires and decisions. Just as Israel yearned to be "like all the nations," we often face the temptation to conform to worldly standards, seeking security, success, or acceptance through means that deviate from God's unique call on our lives. This verse reminds us that true security and fulfillment are found not in mimicking the world, but in embracing our distinct identity as God's people, trusting in His invisible yet sovereign rule. When faced with difficult choices, personal crises, or societal pressures, Samuel's immediate and instinctive response—to pray unto the LORD—serves as a powerful model. Our first recourse should always be to seek divine counsel, laying our burdens and questions before God, confident that He hears and will guide us according to His perfect will. This act of prayer is not a last resort, but a foundational expression of faith, acknowledging God's ultimate authority and wisdom in every circumstance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I find myself desiring to be "like all the nations," rather than embracing God's unique calling for me?**
* **When faced with a significant challenge or disappointment, is my immediate response to turn to the LORD in prayer, or do I first rely on human wisdom or emotional reactions?**
* **What does it truly mean for God to "reign over" my life today, and how does that impact my daily decisions and priorities?**

### FAQ
**Why was Samuel so displeased by the request for a king?**

Answer: Samuel's displeasure stemmed from multiple layers of understanding. Firstly, it was a personal grief, as the request for a king was implicitly a rejection of his own faithful leadership and that of his family, despite the corruption of his sons. More profoundly, Samuel understood that the people's demand was a theological rejection of God Himself. As God explicitly states in [1 Samuel 8:7](/1_samuel/8-7 "1 Samuel 8:7 - God's Interpretation of Israel's Request"), "they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." Samuel, as God's prophet, grasped the profound implications for Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh, who had been their invisible King and deliverer since the Exodus. He foresaw the spiritual dangers and moral compromises that a human monarchy, especially one desired out of a worldly desire to "be like all the nations," would inevitably bring upon the people.

**Did God always intend for Israel to have a king?**

Answer: The question of God's intention regarding a king for Israel is nuanced. While God did make provisions for a king in the Mosaic Law ([Deuteronomy 17:14-15](/deuteronomy/17-14 "Deuteronomy 17:14-15 - Law of the King")), outlining the characteristics and limitations of such a ruler, this provision was for a future time when the people would "say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me.'" This suggests that while a king was foreseen, it was not necessarily God's *ideal* or *immediate* plan for their governance, particularly not one motivated by a desire to conform to pagan nations. The issue in 1 Samuel 8 was not the concept of kingship itself, but the *timing* and, crucially, the *motivation* behind the people's demand. They sought a king out of a lack of faith in God's direct rule and a desire for earthly security and conformity, rather than waiting for God's perfect timing and choosing a king who would truly rule under God's authority. God ultimately granted their request, but as [Hosea 13:11](/hosea/13-11 "Hosea 13:11 - God's Reluctant Granting of a King") later states, "I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath," indicating His displeasure with the spirit of their demand.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Israel's demand for a king in 1 Samuel 8:6, and Samuel's distress, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. Just as Israel rejected God's invisible rule, preferring a visible, earthly king "like all the nations," humanity, in its fallen state, consistently rejects the true King, Jesus Christ. He came to His own, yet "[His own people did not receive Him](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - Jesus Rejected by His Own")" ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - Jesus Rejected by His Own")), and His citizens "[hated Him and sent a delegation after Him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us'](/luke/19-14 "Luke 19:14 - His Citizens Hated Him")" ([Luke 19:14](/luke/19-14 "Luke 19:14 - His Citizens Hated Him")). The people's desire for a king to "judge" them foreshadows the ultimate Judge and King, Jesus, who is the promised ruler from Bethlehem, the one who will "[shepherd My people Israel](/matthew/2-6 "Matthew 2:6 - Bethlehem, Ruler of Israel")" ([Matthew 2:6](/matthew/2-6 "Matthew 2:6 - Bethlehem, Ruler of Israel")). Furthermore, Samuel's immediate act of prayer and intercession for a rebellious people points forward to Christ, the Great High Priest, who ever lives to "[make intercession for them](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Eternal Intercession")" ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Eternal Intercession")). While Israel sought an earthly king to protect them, Christ is the eternal "[King of Kings and Lord of Lords](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")" ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")), whose kingdom is not of this world, yet offers true security, justice, and eternal reign to all who willingly submit to His perfect and loving rule.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 15:11

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

1 Samuel 12:17

[Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Ezra 9:3

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

Ezra 9:5

¶ And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

Psalms 109:4

For my love they are my adversaries: but I [give myself unto] prayer.

Luke 6:11

And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.