10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked of him a king . 11 He said , " This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots . 12 " He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties , and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots . 13 "He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers . 14 " He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants . 15 "He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants . 16 "He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work . 17 "He will take a tenth of your flocks , and you yourselves will become his servants . 18 "Then you will cry out in that day because e of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day ." 19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel , and they said , "No , but there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations , that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles ." 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people , he repeated them in the Lord'S hearing . 22 The Lord said to Samuel , " Listen to their voice and appoint them a king ." So Samuel said to the men of Israel , "Go every man to his city ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:10-22
Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:10-22
(Read 1 Samuel 8:10-22)
If they would have a king to rule them, as the eastern kings ruled their subjects, they would find the yoke exceedingly heavy. Those that submit to the government of the world and the flesh, are told plainly, what hard masters they are, and what tyranny the dominion of sin is. The law of God and the manner of men widely differ from each other; the former should be our rule in the several relations of life; the latter should be the measure of our expectations from others. These would be their grievances, and, when they complained to God, he would not hear them. When we bring ourselves into distress by our own wrong desires and projects, we justly forfeit the comfort of prayer, and the benefit of Divine aid. The people were obstinate and urgent in their demand. Sudden resolves and hasty desires make work for long and leisurely repentance. Our wisdom is, to be thankful for the advantages, and patient under the disadvantages of the government we may live under; and to pray continually for our rulers, that they may govern us in the fear of God, and that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. And it is a hopeful symptom when our desires of worldly objects can brook delay; and when we can refer the time and manner of their being granted to God's providence.