1 Samuel 8:10 Commentary and Bible Study

Samuel appeals to their carnal reasoning. And from verses 11 to 17 in chapter 8, he tells them what will happen when a king reigns over them. The king will take your sons and appointment for himself. He will call up to the army. He will have them driving his chariots. He will make a standing army, to consolidate his reign, to defend the nation and, of course, to establish his unchallengeable power in the land. He won't be like Samuel. In chapter 9, before he is anointed, Saul goes looking for Samuel. He is not a very pious young man; he has never seen him; he has never been to Ramah to worship, but he is told to look for Samuel who can help him. He finds Samuel in the open-air, sat on a seat, so approachable, so available. Your king won't be like that, Samuel warns. He will be hidden behind an army, and he will control you through it. He will take your daughters to be cooks and bakers; he will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves to give to his servants. He will just requisition things left right and centre, and reward all his officers of state; your king will eventually own most of the state. And he will impose taxation. He’ll ytake a tenth of your seed – the beginning of taxation. They had never had taxation before. ‘He will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards.’ Yes, they had the tythe to the temple, modest as it was, but they had not had additional taxation. That would come with the monarchy, and it will be very high. They will suddenly find that they are supporting a king's retinue, and a bodyguard, and all kinds of other things they never needed before. When they needed to go to war they raised an army and everybody went to war. When it was over, you had a time of peace and the army was disbanded. But now, says Samuel, you are going to have to have an army all the time. With a king, he is going to want an army. He is going to want his own personal retinue and defence. You are making a choice, says Samuel, and you cannot just undo that choice when things get hard. ‘You shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye have chosen you, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.’