Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Samuel · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
VVHen Samuel was old, hee made his sonnes Joel and Abiah Judges V. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5over Israel, and they were Judges in Beershebah, but because they tooke bribes, and perverted judgement, the Elders of Israel came to Samuel, and complained hereof, and asked a King to judge them like other Nations. The age of Samuel, saith Sallianus was now 60, for hee was borne when Eli had been High-priest, and Judge one yeare, and was 39 when hee dyed.
Samuel, saith Lyra, not being able any longer to travaile about, as hee had done, by reason of his age, made his sonnes Judges, thinking that they would Lyra.tread in his steps, but hee was deceived in them. For these words, they were Judges in Beershebah; Junius hath it, even to Beershebah, that is, from Dan to Iunius.Beershebah, all over Israel, as these two limits are put, Judg. 20. 1. but I cannot see how the word foreign properly signifying, in Beershebah, will bear this construction, for in the place alledged, Numb. 20. 1. it is foreign even to Beershebah. Borrhaeus therefore and Osiander hold, that they were placed Borrhaus. Osiander.there, because it was furthest remote southward, and next to the Philistims countrey, where there was neede of the presence of a Judge, that might be able to withstand and provide against that enemy, and Samuel being old, could not now travaile so farre to judge the people. But this is not probable, because Beershebab was none of the places to which Samuel had used to travail, but Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh. Pellican thinketh, that they dwelt there to vexe Pellican.the people, by making them to come long journeys for judgement, and there seemeth to mee to bee some antithesis between that which was before said touching their father Samuel his travailing about to divers places to judge the people for their greater ease, and their sloathfulnesse, abiding alwayes in one place onelyonly, and not travailing about, or dividing themselves to severall places, that thus at the least the people might bee put to the lesse labour; and so this is mentioned not without some taxation, that they preferred their own ease and pleasure before the good of the Common-wealth; thus also Peter Martyr: yet I doe not thinke that they did thus purposely to vexe the people, but out of a neglect towards them. If it bee said, this is not likely that they lived both in one place, and went not abroad to judge, seeing their father was yet living, and so hee would not have suffered it. I answer, it is likely, that being once in authority, they would not bee ruled by their father, as neither would Eli's wicked sons, nor some others since, that have bin made Kings whilst their fathers lived, but have rebelled against them. Josephus saith, that one of Josephus.them dwelt in Dan, and the other in Beershebab, but this is against the Scripture. They dwelt farre from their father, and happily by his appointment, because he continued a Judge still, as was before said, Hee judged Israel all his dayes, and hee made them but his assistants now that hee was old, meaning doubtlesse, that they should go about as hee had done, he in the meane season judging all about Ramah, and rarely elsewhere.
Samuel in setting up his sonnes for Judges, saith Peter Martyr, sinned two Peter Martyr.wayes: 1 That hee did it contrary to all former presidents, for Gedeon having the Kingdome offered to him and his sonnes, refused it; and likewise Moses, when hee saw that hee must depart out of this life, set not up his sonne, but prayed the Lord to provide him a man to goe before the people, and to govern them. 2 In that hee did thus, without asking counsell of the Lord; for if hee had asked, hee should have heard that Judges were not to bee set up by men, but by the Lord immediately. And therefore it succeeded accordingly, both his sonnes proved wicked, and the people shooke off both him and them. The wickednesse of his sonnes was very great: 1 They were covetous. 2 They tooke bribes. 3 Perverted judgement, and so the wicked were justified, and the righteous condemned, then which there cannot bee a greater pest to a Common-wealth. Wherefore Exod. 18. it is a property required in a Judge, that hee should hate covetousnesse; the Ancients pictured Justice without eyes, and without hands, to shew, that a Judge should neither bee a respecter of persons, nor take bribes. The Areopagites judged alwayes in the darke, that both these evills might bee prevented. Cambyses caused an unjust Judge to bee fleaed, and with his skin a cover to bee made for the Judgement-seat, appointing his sonne to sit there and judge Causes. If any shall marvaile, that Eli was judged so severely for his sonnes faults, but Samuel not: Theodoret answereth, that they lived not neare to their father, but afarre off, so as that hee could not provide for a reformation. But whether did the people il hereupon in desiring a King? Ans. Pellican saith, that they sinned by curiosity, in that they Qu. desired not a reformation of the abuse, but an innovation of the government Pellican.Osiander, that they sinned by distrust in God, for that they thought that a Judge Osiander.coming sometime of meane parentage, was not so formidable to the enemy, as a King, and therfore that they were not so safe under Judges: when as indeed they were not under the protection of the Judge, but of God, who raised him up immediatly. Lastly, Willet saith, they sinned also by ingratitude towards Samuel, in Willet.that having received so many benefits from him, yet they rejected his government even whilst he lived. And this is one of P. Martyr's, who also saith, they sinned by Peter Martyr.desiring a King, after the manner of all other Nations, and not according to the rule of Gods Word, Deut. 17. and in that they desired a King without consulting with the Lord, or having direction and order from him hereabout. For it was not altogether unlawfull for them to desire to have a King, seeing the Lord had before propounded the case, if they would set a King over Deut. 17.them, hee should bee one of their brethren, and not bee proud, &c. And to Abraham hee had promised, that Kings should come out of his loynes: and Gen. 17. 6. Gee. 49. 10.Iacob by the spirit spake in the scepter of Iudah. But till God had pleased to give order for the making of a King, they should have rested in the present government by Judges, and desired that the abuses in Samuel's sons, should either have been reformed, or they turned out of their places. And as they sinned greatly in asking a King, so they did foolishly, because they desired to change from a better government by Judges, to a worse. For the Judge ruled them alwayes according to Gods Word, when God set a Judge over them, but there was danger of the contrary, if Kings were set up, as wofull experience afterwards proved, there being amongst twenty Kings, scarce foure godly. Againe, kings lived in greater state, and this must be maintained by the greater charge of the people; and themselves, their lands, and children must bee at the Kings service, which were free under Judges; and they were excluded from having a voice in matters of importance under Kings, whereas in the time of Judges, the Elders and people did bear sway. And in asking a King because Samuel's sons were wicked, they did foolishly, for how could they know, but that their King might be wicked also; & if the sons of him so a good father did thus degenerate, how could they but feare the like touching the Kings sonne; who must not now by a new-election, but by inheritance come to the Kingdome after him? yet this their unjust desire was guided by Gods providence, to accomplish Gods Word, That Kings should come of Abraham.
For these reasons before-going, their asking of a King displeased Samuel, but V. 6.hee went to God by prayer, referring it to his direction. And God bade him hearken unto them, yet hee also sheweth himselfe to bee displeased with them, in that hee saith, They have not rejected thee, but mee; that I should not reigne V. 7.over them, according to all the workes which they have done since I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day, wherein they have forsaken mee, and served V. 8.other Gods, &c. Whereby wee may see that God sometimes granteth men their desires in wrath, as the Quailes in the wildernesse; and hee saith elsewhere, Note. I gave them a King in my wrath, that wee may all learne in asking any Numb. 11. 33. Hos. 13. 1….thing of God, not to bee carryed by our owne affections, but to bee regulated by his will. But how doth the Lord say, They have rejected mee: Lyra resolveth Lyra.it thus, they have rejected mee, in that they have left mee to serve other Gods, and so now they reject thee my Vicegerent. Peter Martyr saith, that Peter Martyr.God here comforteth Samuel two wayes. 1 That the ignominy now offered to him against himself, for hee was by God made Judge over them, and so hee being rejected for Judge, God himselfe was rejected for King. 2 That this was no new thing, for they had alwayes used the Lord thus, since their comming out of Egypt, casting him off from time to time to serve other Gods, therefore it might well bee patiently borne by Samuel, as not arguing any fault in him causing them thus to doe, but their rebellious disposition; and no greater dishonour was herein done unto him, then unto God himselfe. If a question bee made here, whether to have a King bee a rejecting of God, that hee should not reigne over us? I answer, no, for even Kings reigne by God, and Prov. 8.when a good King reigneth, God ruleth by him; yea, a Tyrant is set up by God, and hath his authority from him, and therefore must bee obeyed, but for Rom. 13. 1.the abuse of his power hee shall answer to God another day. Now the people of Israel are said to have rejected God from ruling over them, because they desired an alteration of that form of government by him setled amongst them, and did as much as in them lay, reject Gods government. Yet hee condescendeth to their desire, for the hardnesse of their hearts, as Moses yeelded, that a bill of divorcement should be given; lest Samuel being denyed to make them a King, they should have set up one themselves.
Then God bade Samuel tell them the manner of the King, and hee said unto them, Hee will take your sonnes, and appoint them for himselfe for his chariots, V. 9, 10.and to bee his horsemen, and some shall runne before him, &c. And will set V. 11. V. 12. V. 15, 16, 17, 18.them to eare his ground, and to reap his harvest, &c. And he will take your fields, &c. And hee will take the tenth of your seed, &c. This, saith Lyra, is to bee understood in the case of necessity for the common good, for in this case, all things are the Kings, and to bee taken and used by him, as the present need requireth for the defence of the Common-wealth, as for the good of the body, all the Lyra.members thereof are to bee exposed to danger. But out of this case of necessity there bee many things expressed, whereunto the right of a King extendeth not, as namely all those things that make the subjects condition servile, and respect not the common good, but rather the will of him that reigneth. And these things doth Samuel declare unto them, that they seeing how great a power a King should have, so that hee might easily turne his Kingly authority into tyranny, might hereby be deterred from seeking to have a King, which would be so inexpedient for them. Wherefore to shew what a King might not commonly doe de jure, Deut. 17. it is said, he shall not multiply Horses to himselfe, nor bring the people back into Egypt, that is, into a servile condition. Whereas it is added here, And yee shall bee his servants, the meaning is none other, but if hee shall turne Tyrant, as hee may easily doe, by reason of his great power. R. Kimbi saith, that these things are so of the right of a King, that without D. Kimhi. …them hee is no King, according to some Rabbins, but according to others, that these are commemorated onelyonly by way of communication of that which would follow upon this change of government. Peter Martyr saith, that the Peter Martyr.true right of a King, is described Deut. 17. here the true right is not propounded, but the usurped, and this the present case required, because they desired to have a King after the manner of the Nations about them, and those Kings did thus tyrannize over their subjects, and pill and poll them unreasonably, and tooke such outward pompe unto them, as that they might thereby most terrifie their subjects. If it be demanded, may not a godly King then take of his subjects, whereby to maintaine himselfe in that port, which belongeth to a King? He answereth, hee may exact tribute according to reason, and maintain a royall pompe, but for the use of the Common-wealth, and not for riot. And that here is not set forth what a King might by right doe, but is prophetically foretold, what hee would doe for their punishment, is held also by Osiander, Osiander. Pellican. Borrhaeus.Pellican, and Borrhaeus; and Gregory, c. 10. it is not here prescribed, but shewed, what reprobate Kings would do, but the godly avoid, for subiects are to bee defended by Kings, and not spoyled of their goods. But if any shall contend, that not things to bee avoyded, but to bee done, are here mentioned, the right of Tyrants is written for that King, who is asked, the Lord b…ing rejected. And Tostatus saith, that all things here set downe, are not put as the rights of Kings, but as the evills, which for the greatnesse of their power they can doe. Amongst whom it is noted, that their King should tyrannize over them three wayes: 1 By taking things violently from them, and not by order of Law. 3 By abusing the goods taken in bestowing them upon his favourites. 3 By basely using their persons, as if they were his slaves or servants.
And yee shall cry unto mee because of your King in that day, but I will not V. 18.heare you. Hereby is shewed, that a King being once set up, although the government bee not so good, yet hee can never bee put downe againe; as the horse having once received man on to his back to pursue the stagge, could never shake him off againe. And this prophesie of the miserable case that they should bee in under Kings, tooke manifest effect, in that they had all wicked Kings, except foure, under whom they suffered greatly, and at last for their wickednesse went into captivity; so Peter Martyr. But yet hee disputeth at large, and Peter Martyr.proveth, that the government of the Church ought not to bee Monarchicall, but alwayes Aristocraticall, because this forme of government was first setled by Christ, when hee gave the keyes of the kingdome of heaven to all the Apostles alike, and the power of forgiving sinnes, and this form may none ever presume to alter without his allowance, to the worlds end.
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, &c. for the words further V. 19. Lyra.added, Nay, but wee will have a King over us, that is, saith Lyra, nay, but the Lord will heare us although wee have a King, and therefore wee will have one. But the word [nay] is rather opposed to the dehortation before-going, not to persist to aske a King, and so Peter Martyr understandeth it, saying, that they P. Martyr.answered as a people headily carryed to have their owne wills, whatsoever should come of it. For although under Judges God had alwayes wonderfully protected them, when they lived in obedience to his lawes; yet because all generally flocked not to the Judge, whereby they thought that they were the weaker, they would now have a King that might command all, thinking, that thus they should bee the stronger: forgetfully passing over Gods gracious dealing towards them under the Judges, whom hee had raised up from time to time, and the miseries which they had suffered under Abimelecb in the short time of his reigne.
Samuel seeing that he nothing prevailed, related their words unto the Lord, V. 20, 21, 22.who bade him againe make them a King, and so for that time hee dismissed the assembly, hereby shewing, that God would shortly set up one over them, to whom alone this belonged by the law, Deut. 17. and in the meane season they were to waite upon him.