Chapter 8:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 8
Samuel's decay and the degeneracy of his sons, ver. 1-3. The
people petition him for a king, who refers it to God, ver. 4-6. God
directs him what answer to give, ver. 7-18. They insist upon their
petition, ver. 19, 20. Which he promises, shall be granted, ver. 21, 22.
Verse 1. Old - And so unfit for his former travels and labours. He is not
supposed to have been now above sixty years of age. But he had
spent his strength and spirits in the fatigue of public business: and
now if he thinks to shake himself as at other times, he finds he is
mistaken: age has cut his hair. They that are in the prime of their
years, ought to be busy in doing the work of life: for as they go
into years, they will find themselves less disposed to it, and less
capable of it. Judges - Not supreme Judges, for such there was to
be but one, and that of God's chusing; and Samuel still kept that
office in his own hands, chap. vii, 15, but his deputies, to go about
and determine matters, but with reservation of a right of appeals
to himself. He had doubtless instructed them in a singular manner,
and fitted them for the highest employments; and he hoped that
the example he had sent them, and the authority he still had over
them, would oblige them to diligence and faithfulness in their
trust.
Verse 2. Beer-sheba - In the southern border of the land of Canaan,
which were very remote from his house at Ramah; where, and in
the neighbouring places Samuel himself still executing the office
of judge.
Verse 3. Took bribes - Opportunity and temptation discovered that
corruption in them which 'till now was hid from their father. It has
often been the grief of holy men, that their children did not tread
in their steps. So far from it, that the sons of eminently good men,
have been often eminently wicked.
Verse 5. A king - Their desires exceed their reasons, which extended no
farther than to the removal of Samuel's sons from their places, and
the procuring some other just: and prudent assistance to Samuel's
age. Nor was the grant of their desire a remedy for their disease,
but rather an aggravation of it. For the sons of their king were
likely to be as corrupt as Samuel's sons and, if they were, would
not be so easily removed. Like other nations - That is, as most of
the nations about us have. But there was not the like reason;
because God had separated them from all other nations, and
cautioned them against the imitation of their examples, and had
taken them into his own immediate care and government; which
privilege other nations had not.
Verse 6. Displeased - Because God was hereby dishonoured by that
distrust of him, and that ambition, and itch after changes, which
were the manifest causes of this desire; and because of that great
misery, which he foresaw the people would hereby bring upon
themselves. Prayed - For the pardon of their sin, and direction and
help from God in this great affair.
Verse 7. Hearken - God grants their desire in anger, and for their
punishment. Rejected me - This injury and contumely, reflects
chiefly upon me and my government. Should not reign - By my
immediate government, which was the great honour, safety, and
happiness of this people, if they had had hearts to prize it.
Verse 8. So do they - Thou farest no worse than myself. This he speaks
for Samuel's comfort and vindication.
Verse 9. Ye protest - That, if it be possible, thou mayst yet prevent their
sin and misery. The manner - That is, of the kings which they
desire like the kings of other nations.
Verse 11. Will take - Injuriously and by violence.
Verse 12. Will appoint - Hebrew. To, or for himself; for his own fancy,
or glory, and not only when the necessities of the kingdom require
it. And though this might seem to be no incumbrance, but an
honour to the persons so advanced, yet even in them that honour
was accompanied with great dangers, and pernicious snares of
many kinds, which those faint shadows of glory could not
recompense; and as to the public, their pomp and power proved
very burdensome to the people, whose lands and fruits were taken
from them, and bestowed upon these, for the support of their state.
Will set them - At his own pleasure, when possibly their own
fields required all their time and pains. He will press them for all
sorts of his work, and that upon his own terms.
Verse 13. Daughters - Which would be more grievous to their parents,
and more dangerous to themselves, because of the tenderness of
that sex, and their liableness to many injuries.
Verse 14. Your fields - By fraud or force, as Ahab did from Naboth. His
servants - He will not only take the fruits of your lands for his
own use, but will take away your possessions to give to his
servants.
Verse 15. The tenth - Besides the several tenths which God hath
reserved for his service, he will, when he pleaseth, impose another
tenth upon you. Officers - Hebrew. To his eunuchs, which may
imply a farther injury, that he should against the command of
God, make some of his people eunuchs; and take those into his
court and favour, which God would have cast out of the
congregation.
Verse 16. Will take - By constraint, and without sufficient recompense.
Verse 17. His servants - That is, he will use you like slaves, and deprive
you of that liberty which now you enjoy.
Verse 18. Cry out - Ye shall bitterly mourn for the sad effects of this
inordinate desire of a king. Will not hear - Because you will not
hear, nor obey his counsel in this day.
Verse 20. Be like - What stupidity! It was their happiness that they were
unlike all other nations, Num. xxiii, 9 Deut. xxxiii, 28, as in other
glorious privileges, so especially in this, that the Lord was their
immediate king and lawgiver. But they will have a king to go out
before them, and to fight their battles. Could they desire a battle
better fought for them than the last was, by Samuel's prayers and
God's thunders? Were they fond to try the chance of war, at the
same uncertainty that others did? And what was the issue? Their
first king was slain in battle: and so was Joshua, one of the last
and best.
Verse 21. Rehearsed - He repeated them privately between God and
himself; for his own vindication and comfort: and as a foundation
for his prayers to God, for direction and assistance.
Verse 22. Go - Betake yourselves to your several occasions, till you hear
more from me in this matter.
Chapter 8:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
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