6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.
6 But the thing displeased
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
6 When Samuel heard their demand - "Give us a king to rule us!" - he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to God.
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:6
Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4-9
(Read 1 Samuel 8:4-9)
Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them that they shall have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but as sometimes he opposes us from loving-kindness, so at other times he gratifies us in wrath; he did so here. God knows how to bring glory to himself, and serves his own wise purposes, even by men's foolish counsels.