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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Things went so very well with Israel, in the chapter before, under
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Samuel's administration, that, methinks, it is a pity to find him so
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quickly, as we do in this chapter, old, and going off, and things
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working towards a revolution. But so it is; Israel's good days seldom
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continue long. We have here,
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I. Samuel decaying,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. His sons degenerating,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:2,3">ver. 2, 3</A>.
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III. Israel discontented with the present government and anxious to see
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a change. For
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1. They petition Samuel to set a king over them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:4,5">ver. 4, 5</A>.
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2. Samuel brings the matter to God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:6">ver. 6</A>.
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3. God directs him what answer to give them, by way of reproof
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:7,8">ver. 7, 8</A>),
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and by way of remonstrance, setting forth the consequences of a change
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of the government, and how uneasy they would soon be under it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:9-18">ver. 9-18</A>.
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4. They insist upon their petition,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:19,20">ver. 19, 20</A>.
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5. Samuel promises them, from God, that they shall shortly be gratified,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:21,22">ver. 21, 22</A>.
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Thus hard is it for people to know when they are well off.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Wickedness of Samuel's Sons.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1075.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his
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sons judges over Israel.
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2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his
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second, Abiah: <I>they were</I> judges in Beer-sheba.
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3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after
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lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Two sad things we find here, but not strange things:--
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1. A good and useful man growing old and unfit for service
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>Samuel was old,</I> and could not judge Israel, as he had done. He
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is not reckoned to be past sixty years of age now, perhaps not so much;
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but he was a man betimes, was full of thoughts and cared when he was a
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child, which perhaps hastened the infirmities of age upon him. The
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fruits that are the first ripe keep the worst. He had spent his
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strength and spirits in the fatigue of public business, and now, if he
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think to shake himself as at other times, he finds he is mistaken: old
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age has cut his hair. Those that are in the prime of their time ought
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to be busy in doing the work of life: for, as they go into years, they
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will find themselves less disposed to it and less able for it.
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2. The children of a good man turning aside, and not treading in his
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steps. Samuel had given his sons so good an education, and they had
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given him such good hopes of their doing well, and gained such a
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reputation in Israel, that he made them judges, assistants to him
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awhile, and afterwards deputies under him at Beer-sheba, which lay
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remote from Ramah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Probably the southern countries petitioned for their residence there,
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that they might not be necessitated to travel far with their causes. We
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have reason to think that Samuel gave them their commissions, not
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because they were his sons (he had no ambition to entail the government
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upon his family, any more than Gideon had), but because, for aught that
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yet appeared, they were men very fit for the trust; and none so proper
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to ease the aged judge, and take some of the burden off him, as
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(<I>cæteris paribus</I>--<I>other things being equal</I>) his own
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sons, who no doubt were respected for their good father's sake, and,
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having such an advantage at setting out, might soon have been great if
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they had but been good. But, alas! <I>his sons walked not in his
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ways</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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and, when their character was the reverse of his, their relation to so
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good a man, which otherwise would have been their honour, was really
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their disgrace. <I>Degeneranti genus opprobrium--A good extraction is a
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reproach to him that degenerates from it.</I> Note, Those that have the
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most grace themselves cannot give grace to their children. It has often
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been the grief of good men to see their posterity, instead of treading
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in their steps, trampling upon them, and, as Job speaks, <I>marring
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their path.</I> Nay, many that have begun well, promised fair, and set
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out in the right path, so that their parents and friends have had great
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hopes of them, yet afterwards have turned aside to by-paths, and been
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the grief of those of whom they should have been the joy. When Samuel's
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sons were made judges, and settled at a distance form him, then they
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discovered themselves. Thus,
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(1.) Many that have been well educated, and have conducted themselves
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well while they were under their parents' eye, when they have gone
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abroad into the world and set up for themselves have proved bad. Let
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none therefore be secure either of themselves or theirs, but depend on
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divine grace.
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(2.) Many that have done well in a state of meanness and subjection
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have been spoiled by preferment and power. Honours change men's minds,
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and too often for the worse. It does not appear that Samuel's sons were
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so profane and vicious as Eli's sons; but, whatever they were in other
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respects, they were corrupt judges, they <I>turned aside after
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lucre,</I> after <I>the mammon of unrighteousness,</I> so the Chaldee
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reads it. Note, <I>The love of money is the root of all evil.</I> It is
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pernicious in any, but especially in judges. Samuel had taken no bribes
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+12:3"><I>ch.</I> xii. 3</A>),
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but his sons had, though, no doubt, he warned them against it when he
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made them judges; and then they perverted judgment. In determining
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controversies, they had an eye to the bribe, not to the law, and
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enquired who bid highest, not who had right on his side. It is sad with
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a people when the public justice that should do them right, being
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perverted, does them the greatest wrong.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa8_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The People Desire a King; God's Answer to Israel; The People Insist on Having a King.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1075.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,
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and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
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5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk
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not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the
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nations.
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6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a
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king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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7 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the
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people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected
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thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over
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them.
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8 According to all the works which they have done since the day
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that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith
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they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also
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unto thee.
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9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest
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solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that
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shall reign over them.
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10 And Samuel told all the words of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> unto the people
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that asked of him a king.
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11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall
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reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint <I>them</I> for
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himself, for his chariots, and <I>to be</I> his horsemen; and <I>some</I>
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shall run before his chariots.
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12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and
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captains over fifties; and <I>will set them</I> to ear his ground, and
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to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and
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instruments of his chariots.
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13 And he will take your daughters <I>to be</I> confectionaries, and
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<I>to be</I> cooks, and <I>to be</I> bakers.
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14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your
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oliveyards, <I>even</I> the best <I>of them,</I> and give <I>them</I> to his
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servants.
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15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your
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vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
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16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants,
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and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put <I>them</I> to
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his work.
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17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his
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servants.
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18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which
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ye shall have chosen you; and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will not hear you in that
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day.
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19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel;
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and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
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20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king
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may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
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21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he
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rehearsed them in the ears of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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22 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and
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make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye
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every man unto his city.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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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.
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But we do not find that it was ever till now publicly proposed and
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debated. Abimelech was little better than a titular king, though he is
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said to reign over Israel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:22">Judges ix. 22</A>),
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and perhaps his fall had for a great while rendered the title of king
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odious in Israel, as that of Tarquinius did among the Romans; but, if
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it had, by this time the odium was worn off, and some bold steps are
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here taken towards so great a revolution as that amounted to. Here
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is,</P>
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<P>
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I. The address of the elders to Samuel in this matter
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>):
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They <I>gathered themselves together,</I> by common consent; and not in
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a riotous tumultuous manner, but with the respect due to his character,
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they came to him to his house as Ramah with their address, which
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contained,</P>
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<P>
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1. A remonstrance of their grievances: in short, <I>Thou art old, and
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thy sons walk not in thy ways.</I> Many a fairer occasion that people
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had had to ask a king, when they were oppressed by their neighbours or
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embroiled at home for want of <I>a king in Israel,</I> but a small
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thing will serve factious spirits for a colour to desire a change.
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(1.) It was true that Samuel was old; but if that made him less able to
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ride the circuit, and sit long on the bench, yet it made him the more
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wise and experienced, and, upon that account, the fitter to rule. If he
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was old, had he not grown old in their service? And it was very unkind,
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ungrateful, nay, and unjust, to cast him off when he was old, who had
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spent his days in doing them good. God had saved his youth from being
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despicable
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+3:20"><I>ch.</I> iii. 20</A>),
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yet they make his old age so, which should have been counted worthy of
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double honour. If old people be upbraided with their infirmities, and
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laid aside for them, let them not think it strange; Samuel himself was
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so.
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(2.) It was true that his sons did not walk in his ways; the more was
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his grief, but they could not say it was his fault: he had not, like
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Eli, indulged them in their badness, but was ready to receive
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complaints against them. And, if that had been the thing desired, we
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may well suppose, upon the making out of the charge of bribery against
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them he would have superseded their commissions and punished them. But
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this would not content the elders of Israel; they had another project
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in their head.</P>
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<P>
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2. A petition for the redress of these grievances, by setting a king
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over them: <I>Make us a king to judge us like all the nations.</I> Thus
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far it was well, that they did not rise up in rebellion against Samuel
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and set up a king for themselves, <I>vi et armis--by force;</I> but they
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applied to Samuel, God's prophet, and humbly begged of him to do it.
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But it appears by what follows that it was an evil proposal and ill
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made, and was displeasing to God. God designed them a king, a man after
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his own heart, when Samuel was dead; but they would anticipate God's
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counsel, and would have one now that Samuel was old. They had a prophet
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to judge them, that had immediate correspondence with heaven, and
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therein they were great and happy above any nation, none having God
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<I>so nigh unto them</I> as they had,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:7">Deut. iv. 7</A>.
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But this would not serve; they must have a king to judge them with
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external pomp and power, like <I>all the nations.</I> A poor prophet in
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a mantle, though conversant in the visions of the Almighty, looked mean
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in the eyes of those who judged by outward appearance; but a king in a
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purple robe, with his guards and officers of state, would look great:
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and such a one they must have. They knew it was in vain to court Samuel
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to take upon him the title and dignity of a king, but he must appoint
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them one. They do not say, "Give us a king that is wise and good, and
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will judge better than thy sons do," but, "Give us a king," any body
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that will but make a figure. Thus foolishly did they forsake their own
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mercies, and, under pretence of advancing the dignity of their nation
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to that of their neighbours, did really thrust themselves down from
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their own excellency, and profane their crown by <I>casting it to the
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ground.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Samuel's resentment of this address,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Let us see how he took it.
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1. It cut him to the heart. Probably it was a surprise to him, and he
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had not any intimation before of their design, which made it the more
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grievous. The thing displeased Samuel; not when they upbraided him with
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his own infirmities and his children's irregularities (he could
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patiently bear what reflected on himself and his own family), but it
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<I>displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us,</I>
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because that reflected upon God and his honour.
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2. It drove him to his knees; he gave them no answer for the present,
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but took time to consider of what they proposed, and prayed unto the
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|
Lord for direction what to do, spreading the case before him and
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|
leaving it with him, and so making himself easy. Samuel was a man much
|
|
in prayer, and we are encouraged <I>in every thing to make our requests
|
|
known to God,</I>
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:6">Phil. iv. 6</A>.
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|
When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to
|
|
show before God our trouble, and he gives us leave to be humbly free
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|
with him.</P>
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<P>
|
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III. The instruction God gave him concerning this matter. Those that in
|
|
straits seek to God shall find him nigh unto them, and ready to direct
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them. He tells him,</P>
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<P>
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1. That which would be an allay to his displeasure. Samuel was much
|
|
disturbed at the proposal: it troubled him greatly to see his prophetic
|
|
office thus slighted, and all the good turns he had done to Israel thus
|
|
ungratefully returned; but God tells him he must not think it either
|
|
hard or strange.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He must not think it hard that they had put this slight upon him,
|
|
for they had herein put a slight upon God himself: "<I>They have not
|
|
rejected thee</I> only, but <I>they have rejected me.</I> I share with
|
|
thee in the affront,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, If God interest himself in the indignities that are done us, and
|
|
the contempts that are put upon us, we may well afford to bear them
|
|
patiently; nor need we think the worse of ourselves if <I>for his sake
|
|
we bear reproach</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:7">Ps. lxix. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
but rather rejoice and count it an honour,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+1:24">Col. i. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Samuel must not complain that they were weary of his government, though
|
|
just and gentle, for really they were weary of God's government; this
|
|
was what they disliked: <I>They have rejected me, that I should not
|
|
reign over them.</I> God <I>reigns over the heathen</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+47:8">Ps. xlvii. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
over all the world, but the government of Israel had hitherto been, in
|
|
a more peculiar manner than ever any government was, a Theocracy, a
|
|
divine government; their judges had their call and commission
|
|
immediately from God; the affairs of their nation were under his
|
|
peculiar direction. As the constitution, so the administration of their
|
|
government, was by <I>Thus saith the Lord;</I> this method they were
|
|
weary of, though it was their honour and safety, above any thing, so
|
|
long as they kept in with God. They were indeed so much the more
|
|
exposed to calamities if they provoked God to anger by sin, and found
|
|
they could not transgress at so cheap a rate as other nations could,
|
|
which perhaps was the true reason why they desired to stand upon the
|
|
same terms with God that other nations did.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He must not think it strange, nor marvel at the matter, for they
|
|
do as they always have done: <I>According to all the works which they
|
|
have done, since the day that I brought them out of Egypt, so do they
|
|
unto thee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>;
|
|
|
|
They had at first been so very respectful and obsequious to Samuel that
|
|
he began to hope they were cured of their old stubborn disposition; but
|
|
now he found himself deceived in them, and must not be surprised at it.
|
|
They had always been rude to their governors, witness Moses and Aaron;
|
|
nay, <I>They have forsaken me and served other gods;</I> the greatness
|
|
of their crime, in affecting new gods, may make this crime of affecting
|
|
new governors seem little. Samuel might expect they would deal
|
|
treacherously, for they were called <I>transgressors from the womb,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:8">Isa. xlviii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
This had been <I>their manner from their youth up,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+22:21">Jer. xxii. 21</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He tells him that which would be an answer to their demand. Samuel
|
|
would not have known what to say if God had not instructed him. Should
|
|
he oppose the motion, it would bespeak a greater fondness of power and
|
|
dominion than did become a prophet, and an indulgence of his sons.
|
|
Should he yield to the motion, it would look like the betraying of his
|
|
trust, and he would become accessory to all the bad consequences of a
|
|
change. Aaron sinned in gratifying the people when they said, <I>Make
|
|
us gods;</I> Samuel dares not therefore comply with them when they say,
|
|
<I>Make us a king,</I> but he gives them, with assurance, the answer
|
|
God sent them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He must tell them that <I>they shall have a king. Hearken to the
|
|
voice of the people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>,
|
|
|
|
and again,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Not that God was pleased with their request, but, as sometimes he
|
|
crosses us in love, so at other times he gratifies us in wrath; he did
|
|
so here. When they said, <I>Give us a king and princes he gave them a
|
|
king in his anger</I> (see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+13:10,11">Hos. xiii. 10, 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
as he gave them quails,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:5,Ps+78:29">Ps. cvi. 15; lxxviii. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
God bade Samuel humour them in this matter,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That they might be beaten with their own rod, and might feel, to
|
|
their cost, the difference between his government and the government of
|
|
a king; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+12:8">2 Chron. xii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
It soon appeared how much worse their condition was, in all respects,
|
|
under Saul, than it had been under Samuel.
|
|
|
|
[2.] To prevent something worse. If they were not gratified, they would
|
|
either rise in rebellion against Samuel or universally revolt from
|
|
their religion and admit the gods of the nations, that they might have
|
|
kings like them. Rather than so, let them have a king.
|
|
|
|
[3.] God knows how to bring glory to himself out of it, and to serve
|
|
his own wise purposes even by their foolish counsels.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) But he must tell them, withal, that when they have a king they
|
|
will soon have enough of him, and will, when it is too late, repent of
|
|
their choice. This he must <I>protest solemnly to them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
that, if they would have a king to rule them, as the eastern kings
|
|
ruled their subjects, they would find the yoke exceedingly heavy. They
|
|
looked only at the pomp or magnificence of a king, and thought that
|
|
would make their nation great and considerable among its neighbours,
|
|
and would strike a terror upon their enemies; but he must bid them
|
|
consider how they would like to bear the charges of that pomp, and how
|
|
they would endure that arbitrary power which the neighbouring kings
|
|
assumed. Note, Those that set their hearts inordinately upon any thing
|
|
in this world ought, for the moderating of their desires, to consider
|
|
the inconveniences as well as the conveniences that will attend it, and
|
|
to set the one over against the other in their thoughts. Those that
|
|
submit to the government of the world and the flesh are told plainly
|
|
what hard masters they are, and what a tyranny the dominion of sin is;
|
|
and yet they will exchange God's government for it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Samuel's faithful delivery of God's mind to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
He <I>told them all the words of the Lord,</I> how ill he resented it,
|
|
that he construed it a rejecting of him, and compared it with their
|
|
serving other gods,--that he would grant their request if they insisted
|
|
on it, but withal had ordered him to represent to them the certain
|
|
consequences of their choice, that they would be such that if they had
|
|
any reason left them, and would allow themselves to consult their own
|
|
interest, they would withdraw their petition, and beg to continue as
|
|
they were. Accordingly he lays before them, very particularly, what
|
|
would be, not the right of a king in general, but <I>the manner of the
|
|
king that should reign over them,</I> according to the pattern of the
|
|
nations,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Samuel does not speak (as bishop Patrick expounds it) of a just and
|
|
honest right of a king to do these things, for his right is quite
|
|
otherwise described in that part of Moses's law which concerns the
|
|
king's duty, but such a right as the kings of the nations had then
|
|
acquired. <I>This shall be the manner of the king,</I> that is, "thus
|
|
he must support his dignity at the expense of that which is dearest to
|
|
you, and thus he will abuse his power, as those that have power are apt
|
|
to do; and, having the militia in his hand, you will be under a
|
|
necessity of submitting to him."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. If they will have such a king as the nations have, let them
|
|
consider,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That king must have a great retinue, abundance of servants to wait
|
|
on him, grooms to look after his chariots and horses, gentlemen to ride
|
|
about with him, and footmen to run before his chariots. This is the
|
|
chief grandeur of princes, and the imaginary glory of great men, to
|
|
have a multitude of attendants. And whence must he have these? "Why, he
|
|
will take your sons, who are free-born, have a liberal education, and
|
|
whom you now have at your own disposal, and will <I>appoint them for
|
|
himself,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
They must wait upon him, and be at his beck; those that used to work
|
|
for their parents and themselves must work for him, <I>ear his ground,
|
|
and reap his harvest</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and count it their preferment too,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
This would be a great change.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He must keep a great table; he will not be content to dine with
|
|
his neighbours upon a sacrifice, as Samuel used to do
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+9:13"><I>ch.</I> ix. 13</A>);
|
|
|
|
but he must have a variety of dainty dishes, forced meats, and
|
|
sweet-meats, and delicate sauces; and who must prepare him these? "Why,
|
|
he will take your daughters, the most ingenious and handy of them, whom
|
|
you hoped to prefer to houses and tables of their own; and, whether you
|
|
be willing or no, they must be his confectioners, and cooks, and
|
|
bakers, and the like."
|
|
|
|
(3.) "He must needs have a standing army, for guards and garrisons; and
|
|
your sons, instead of being elders of your cities, and living in quiet
|
|
and honour at home, must be captains over thousands and captains over
|
|
fifties, and must be disposed of at the pleasure of the sovereign."
|
|
|
|
(4.) "You may expect that he will have great favourites, whom, having
|
|
dignified and ennobled, he must enrich, and give them estates suitable
|
|
to their honour; and which way can he do that, but out of your
|
|
inheritances?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>He will take your fields and vineyards,</I> which descended to you
|
|
from your ancestors, and which you hoped to leave to your posterity
|
|
after you, <I>even the best of them;</I> and will not only take them to
|
|
himself (you could bear that better), but he will <I>give them to his
|
|
servants,</I> who will be your masters, and bear rule over that for
|
|
which you have laboured, How will you like that?"
|
|
|
|
(5.) "He must have great revenues to maintain his grandeur and power
|
|
with; and whence must he have them but from you? He will take the tenth
|
|
of the fruits of your ground
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
and your cattle,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
You think the tenths, the double tenths, which the law of God has
|
|
appointed for the support of the church, grievous enough, and grudge
|
|
the payment of them; but, if you have a king, there must issue another
|
|
tenth out of your estates, which will be levied with more rigour, for
|
|
the support of the royal dignity. Consider the expense with the
|
|
magnificence, and whether it will quit cost."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. These would be their grievances, and,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They would have none but God to complain to. Once they complained
|
|
to the prince himself, and were answered, according to the manner of
|
|
the king, Your <I>yoke is heavy, and I will add to it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+12:11">1 Kings xii. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) When they complained to God he <I>would not hear them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Nor could they expect that he should, both because they had been deaf
|
|
to his calls and admonitions, and this trouble, in particular, they had
|
|
brought upon themselves by rejecting him, and would not believe when he
|
|
told them what would come of it. Note, When we bring ourselves into
|
|
distress by our own irregular desires and projects we justly forfeit
|
|
the comfort of prayer and the benefit of divine aids, and, if God be
|
|
not better to us than we deserve, must have our relief in our own
|
|
hands, and then it is bad with us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The people's obstinacy in their demand,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
One would think such a representation of the consequences as this was,
|
|
coming from God himself, who can neither deceive by his word nor be
|
|
deceived in his knowledge, should have prevailed with them to waive
|
|
their request: but their hearts were upon it, right or wrong, good or
|
|
evil: "<I>We will have a king over us,</I> whatever God or Samuel say
|
|
to the contrary; we will have a king, whatever it cost us, and whatever
|
|
inconvenience we bring upon ourselves or our posterity by it." See
|
|
their folly.
|
|
|
|
1. They were quite deaf to reason and blind to their own interest. They
|
|
could not answer Samuel's arguments against it, nor deny the force of
|
|
them, and yet they grow more violent in their request, and more
|
|
insolent. Before it was, "Pray, <I>make us a king;</I>" now it is,
|
|
"<I>Nay, but we will have a king;</I> yea, that we will, because we
|
|
will; nor will we bear to have any thing said against it." See the
|
|
absurdity of inordinate desires, and how they rob men of their reason.
|
|
|
|
2. They could not stay God's time. God had intimated to them in the law
|
|
that, in due time, Israel should have a king
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+17:14,15">Deut. xvii. 14, 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
and perhaps they had some intimation that the time was at hand; but
|
|
they are all in haste: "We, in our day, will have this king over us."
|
|
Could they but have waited ten or twelve years longer they would have
|
|
had David, a king of God's giving in mercy, and all the calamities that
|
|
attended the setting up of Saul would have been prevented. Sudden
|
|
resolves and hasty desires make work for a long and leisurely
|
|
repentance.
|
|
|
|
3. That which they aimed at in desiring a king was not only, as before,
|
|
that they might be like the nations, and levelled with the one above
|
|
whom God had so far advanced them, but that they might have one to
|
|
judge them, and to go out before them when they took the field, and to
|
|
fight their battles. Foolish people and unwise! Could they ever desire
|
|
a battle better fought for them that the last was, by Samuel's prayer
|
|
and God's thunder?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:10"><I>ch.</I> vii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Was victory hereby too sure to them? And were they fond of trying the
|
|
chance of war at the same uncertainty that others did? So sick, it
|
|
seems, were they of their privileges: and what was the issue? Their
|
|
first king was slain in a battle, which none of their judges ever were;
|
|
so was Josiah, one of the last and best.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. The dismissing of them with an intimation that very shortly they
|
|
should have what they asked.
|
|
|
|
1. <I>Samuel rehearsed all their words in the ears of the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Not but that God perfectly knew it, without Samuel's report; but thus
|
|
he dealt faithfully between God and Israel, as a prophet, returning the
|
|
answer to him that sent him; and thus he waited on God for further
|
|
direction. God is fully acquainted with the state of the case we are in
|
|
care and doubt about, but he will know it from us. His rehearsing it
|
|
<I>in the ears of the Lord</I> intimates that it was done in private;
|
|
for the people were not disposed to join with him in prayer to God for
|
|
direction in this matter; also it bespeaks a holy familiarity, to which
|
|
God graciously admits his people: they speak in the ears of the Lord,
|
|
as one friend whispers with another; their communion with God is
|
|
<I>meat they have to eat which the world knows not of,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:32">John iv. 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. God gave direction that they should have a king, since they were so
|
|
inordinately set upon it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Make them a king,</I> and let them make their best of him, and
|
|
thank themselves if that very pomp and power which they are so eager to
|
|
see their sovereign in be their plague and burden." <I>So he gave them
|
|
up to their own hearts' lusts.</I> Samuel told them this, but sent them
|
|
home for the present, <I>every man to his city;</I> for the designation
|
|
of the person must be left to God; they had now no more to do. When God
|
|
saw fit to notify the choice to Samuel they should hear further from
|
|
him; in the mean time let them keep the peace and expect the issue.</P>
|
|
|
|
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