Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Samuel · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Verſ. 1. ANd it came to paſſe when Samuel was old, that he made his ſonnes judges over Iſrael.] To wit, as his deputies and ſubſtitutes, being through age unable to go through the land to judge the people, as formerly he had done, he appointed his ſonnes to judge the people in ſome part of the land in his ſtead, and that happely not without Gods permiſſion and conſent.
Verſ. 2. Now the name of his firſt-born was Joel.] Who was alſo called Vaſhni, 1 Chron. 6.28.
They were judges in Beerſheba.] Though they exerciſed authority, and power of Judges over all the people, at leaſt in thoſe parts, and went happely in their circuits as their father had done; yet there they dwelt, as their father did in Ramah, and there moſt an end they judged the people: and that it may be purpoſely, either becauſe that town was in the utmoſt ſouthpart of the land, the furtheſt off from Ramah, from whence it was moſt trouble for the people to come to Samuel in Ramah; or becauſe it bordered cloſe upon the land of the Philiſtines, over whom they might the better keep a vigilant eye.
Verſ. 3. And his ſonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aſide after lucre.] Not onelyonly the ſingular piety of Samuel, but alſo the experience he had of Gods ſeverity againſt Eli for his indulgence to his children, may well induce us to think that he did what he could to train up his ſonnes in the wayes of righteouſneſſe, nor can we indeed think that he would have entruſted them with the ſubordinate power of governing the people under him, had they not to that time behaved themſelves well, and given hope of managing the truſt well that was committed to them; but being advanced to theſe places of dignity and power, it ſeems they ſoon degenerated, and proved the occaſion of much miſchief to the commonwealth.
Verſ. 5. Behold, thou art old, and thy ſonnes walk not in thy wayes: now make us a King, &c.] They expreſſely pretend onelyonly Samuels age, and his ſonnes wickedneſſe, as the reaſons why they deſired a King; but there were other things that did chiefly move them in this attempt; to wit, firſt, their fear of the great preparations which they perceived Nahaſh the king of the children of Ammon made againſt them; whereupon as men not having any confidence in Gods protection, they fly to other devices, and pi…ch upon this of making them a king chap. 12.12. And when ye ſaw that Nahaſh the king of the children of Ammon came againſt you, ye ſaid unto me, Nay▪ but a king ſhall reigne over us; and ſecondly, an ambitious affectation of being like other nations; by turning their government into an abſolute Monarchy, which is implyed in their laſt words, Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But though they were reſolved to have a king, yet they referre the choice of him that ſhould reigne over them to the Lord (for they came to Samuel as a Prophet that might enquire in this buſineſſe of God) and that no doubt as pretending reſpect to that which was written in their Law; Deut. 17.14, 15. When th… art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and ſhalt poſſeſſe it, and ſhalt dwell therein, and ſhalt ſay, I will ſet a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me: Thou ſhalt in any wiſe ſet him king over thee whom the Lord thy God ſhall chooſe.
Verſ. 6. But the thing displeaſed Samuel, &c.] It could not but greive him, that the people, of whom he had deſerved ſo well, ſhould thus unthankfully ſhake off his government; but the cheif thing that troubled him, was becauſe he knew their deſire was ſinfull, and would be diſpleaſing to God: and therefore that clauſe is added, that Samuel prayed unto the Lord, that is, he prayed him to forgive this their ſinne, to help in this danger, and to direct him what courſe he ſhould take with them.
Verſ. 7. And the Lord ſaid unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they ſay unto thee.] Thus God yields to their deſire, but in his anger, Hoſea 13.11.
For they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I ſhould not reigne over them.] That is, For they have rejected me rather then thee: we have the like phraſe in many places of Scripture, as Matth. 10.20. For it is not ye that ſpeak, but the ſpirit of your father which ſpeaketh in you: It is the ſpirit of your father rather then you that ſpeaks: Hoſ. 6.6. For I deſired merciemercy and not ſacrifice; that is, merciemercy rather then ſacrifice: Acts 5.4. Thou haſt not lied unto men, but unto God; that is, unto God rather then men. And this God ſaith, firſt, becauſe they caſt off that government which God had eſtabliſhed amongſt them: for though God had a purpoſe to erect a regall throne amongſt them, and to give them Kings out of whoſe ſeed the Meſſiah ſhould come; and now made uſe of their inordinate deſire to accompliſh his own purpoſe: (as uſually he doth turn the evil actions of men to a good end) yea though he had partly made known this to his people; Gen. 17.6. And I will make thee exceeding fruitfull, and I will make nations of thee, and kings ſhall come out of thee; and 49.10. The ſceptre ſhall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, untill Shiloh come: Deut. 17.18. And it ſhall be, when he ſitteth upon the throne of his kingdome, that he ſhall write him a copie of this law in a book: yet they ſhould have waited Gods leiſure; neither was it therefore lawfull to make an innovation in the government, without any direction from the Lord; eſpecially in ſuch a ſinfull manner, out of a diſtruſtfull fear, and proud affectation to be therein like all other nations; as is noted before upon Deut. 17.14. ſecondly, becauſe though God do govern by kings alſo, Prov. 8.15, 16. By me Kings reigne, and Princes decree justice, By me Princes rule, and Nobles; even all the Judges of the earth: yet his government was more immediate which he now exerciſed over them by Judges; both becauſe they were extraordinarily raiſed up of God, and becauſe they had not that abſolute power which kings uſually have, but judge them chiefly by making known to them the will of God; and to that end did often enquire of the Lord in difficult caſes: ſee Judg. 8.23. And thus the Lord ſhews Samuel, firſt, the grievouſneſſe of their ſinne, and that this moved him in his diſpleaſure to yield them their deſire: and ſecondly, he ſought to prevent the wonder and indignation of Samuel; for why? they dealt no otherwiſe with him, then with the Lord himſelf; as Chriſt ſaith to his diſciples, Matt. 10.24, …5. The diſciple is not above his maſter, nor the ſervant above his Lord. It is …nough for the diſciple that he be as his Maſter, and the ſervant as his Lord: If they have called the Maſter of the houſe Beel-zebub, how much more ſhall they call them of his houſhold?
Verſ. 9. Howbeit, yet proteſt ſolemnly unto them, and ſhew them the manner of the king that ſhall reigne over them.] Samuel is not here enjoyned to ſhew them what power, right and authoritie their king muſt have over them; but what would be the manner of their kings dealing with them; and this he is appointed to tell them beforehand▪ that either they might be perſwaded to deſiſt from their enterprize; or that they might be left inexcuſable, and onelyonly condemne themſelves when theſe miſeries befell them.
Verſ. 11. He will take your ſonnes, and appoint them for himſelf, for his chariots, &c.] That princes may make uſe of the ſubjects that live under their command both in the ſervices of warre and peace, cannot be queſtioned; nor yet that the ſubjects may be legally compelled to yield obedience in this kind if they ſhould refuſe; but the oppreſſion which is here threatned is, that he ſhould deal with them herein, as tyrants with ſlaves, not freeborn ſubjects, forcing children from their parents many times, without affording them any equall recompence; and that to employ them cauſeleſſely, onelyonly to ſatisfie his pleaſure in the baſeſt drudgerie and moſt perillous employments. And how ſoon the Iſraelites began to feel theſe grievances under their kings, we may ſee by that which is ſaid of Solomon, 1. Kings 12.4. Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous ſervice of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will ſerve thee.
Verſ. 12. And he will appoint him captains over thouſands, and captains over fifties, and will ſet them to eare his ground, &c.] Theſe were honourable offices to them that enjoyed them, but they were burdenſome to the people, who muſt be heavily taxed to maintain them; and threatned all ſevere rigour to thoſe drudges and labourers, over whom happely they were ſet as overſeers.
Verſ. 22. And Samuel ſaid unto the men of Iſrael, Go ye every man unto his citie.] That is, he undertook to ſatisfie their deſire, and ſo brake up the aſſembly, till the Lord had revealed his will; and ſo it might be known what courſe they ſhould take to provide them a king.