19 Nevertheless the people H5971 refused H3985 to obey H8085 the voice H6963 of Samuel; H8050 and they said, H559 Nay; but we will have a king H4428 over us;
As for the word H1697 that thou hast spoken H1696 unto us in the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 we will not hearken H8085 unto thee.
But my people H5971 would not hearken H8085 to my voice; H6963 and Israel H3478 would H14 none of me.
I also will choose H977 their delusions, H8586 and will bring H935 their fears H4035 upon them; because when I called, H7121 none did answer; H6030 when I spake, H1696 they did not hear: H8085 but they did H6213 evil H7451 before mine eyes, H5869 and chose H977 that in which I delighted H2654 not.
And now, because ye have done H6213 all these works, H4639 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and I spake H1696 unto you, rising up early H7925 and speaking, H1696 but ye heard H8085 not; and I called H7121 you, but ye answered H6030 not;
And they come H935 unto thee as the people H5971 cometh, H3996 and they sit H3427 before H6440 thee as my people, H5971 and they hear H8085 thy words, H1697 but they will not do H6213 them: for with their mouth H6310 they shew H6213 much love, H5690 but their heart H3820 goeth H1980 after H310 their covetousness. H1215
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 8
Commentary on 1 Samuel 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
Things went so very well with Israel, in the chapter before, under Samuel's administration, that, methinks, it is a pity to find him so quickly, as we do in this chapter, old, and going off, and things working towards a revolution. But so it is; Israel's good days seldom continue long. We have here,
Thus hard is it for people to know when they are well off.
1Sa 8:1-3
Two sad things we find here, but not strange things:-
1Sa 8:4-22
We have here the starting of a matter perfectly new and surprising, which was the setting up of kingly government in Israel. Perhaps the thing had been often talked of among them by those that were given to change and affected that which looked great. But we do not find that it was ever till now publicly proposed and debated. Abimelech was little better than a titular king, though he is said to reign over Israel (Judges 9:22), and perhaps his fall had for a great while rendered the title of king odious in Israel, as that of Tarquinius did among the Romans; but, if it had, by this time the odium was worn off, and some bold steps are here taken towards so great a revolution as that amounted to. Here is,