Bible Commentary

And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1Sa 8:7-9 Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee. Prayer … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 8:7”

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 6 9. Jehovah’s answer to the request 6. the thing displeased Samuel ] 1Sa 8:7 implies that Samuel’s displeasure arose from a feeling of the ingratitude of the Israelites toward himself in desiring that … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 8:6”

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. 5. make us a king ] Lit. set, i.e. appoint, the same word as in the corresponding passage, Deu 17:14. like all the nations ] i.e. as … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 8:5”

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 4. the elders of Israel ] Acting as representatives of the people, 1Sa 8:7 ; 1Sa 8:10 ; 1Sa 8:19 ; 1Sa 8:22. In a patriarchal system of government the Elders or heads of families are the natural authorities. Even … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 8:4”

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 3. turned aside after Lucre ] From the straight-forward path of their father’s example. Lucre (from Lat. lucrum) is only used in the E. V. in a bad sense of ill-gotten gain. took bribes and perverted … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 8:3”

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba. 2. Now the name, &c.] Joel = “Jehovah is God:” Abiah = “Jah is my father:” names significant of a protest against the prevalent idolatry. The text of 1Ch 6:28, where the names are given … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 8:2”

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Ch. 1Sa 8:1-5. Request of the people for a king 1. when Samuel was old ] A considerable time, probably not much less than 20 years, must have elapsed since the victory of Ebenezer, before Samuel required the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 8:1”

And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD. 17. to Ramah ] See note on ch. 1Sa 1:1. Samuel chose his native place for his usual official residence, and made it a centre of religious worship by building … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 7:17”

And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 16. to Beth-el ] About 8 miles N. of Jerusalem the ruins of Beitn mark the site of the ancient city of Beth-el, formerly the royal Canaanite city Luz (Gen 28:19), at the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 7:16”

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 15. Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life ] This, like the statement of 1Sa 7:13, must be understood with qualifications: for ( a) Samuel in his old age made his sons judges (1Sa 8:1): ( b) Saul was made king a considerable … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 7:15”