SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:5
y le dijeron: He aquí tú has envejecido, y tus hijos no van por tus caminos; por tanto, constitúyenos ahora un rey que nos juzgue, como tienen todos los gentiles.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 8:5
Verse 5. Make us a king] Hitherto, from the time in which they were a people, the Israelites were under a theocracy, they had no other king but GOD. NOW they desire to have a king like the other nations around them, who may be their general in battle; for this is the point at which they principally aim.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. And said unto him, behold, thou art old , etc.] (see 1 Samuel 8:1), his age was no reproach to him, nor was it becoming them to upbraid him with it; nor was it a reason why he should be removed from his office, for it did not disqualify him for it; but rather, having gained by age experience, was more fit for it, though he might not be able to ride his circuits as formerly: and thy sons walk not in thy ways ; whom he had made judges; this is a better reason than the former for what is after requested; and had they only besought them to remove him from their places, and rested content with that, it would have been well enough; but what they were solicitous for, and always had an inclination to, and now thought a proper opportunity offered of obtaining it, was what follows: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations ; to rule over them as sole monarch; to go before them in battle as their genera], as well as to administer justice to them, by hearing and trying causes as their judge; which only they mention to cover their views, and make their motion more acceptable to Samuel; what they were desirous of was to have a king appearing in pomp and splendour, wearing a crown of gold, clothed in royal apparel, with a sceptre in his hand, dwelling in a stately palace, keeping a splendid court, and attended with a grand retinue, as the rest of the nations about them had had for a long time. The first kings we read of were in the times of Abraham, but after it became common for nations to have kings over them, and particularly the neighbours of Israel, as Edom, Moab, Ammon, etc. and Cicero says f151 , all the ancient nations had their kings, to whom they were obedient: Israel had God for their King in a peculiar manner other nations had not, and stood in no need of any other; and happy it would have been for them if they had been content therewith, and not sought after another: however, they were so modest, and paid such deference to Samuel, as to desire him to make or appoint one for them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-9 - Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected of himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Giv 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 a our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them tha 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 time he gratifies us in wrath; he did so here. God knows how to bring glor to himself, and serves his own wise purposes, even by men's foolis counsels.
Original Hebrew
ויאמרו 559 אליו 413 הנה 2009 אתה 859 זקנת 2204 ובניך 1121 לא 3808 הלכו 1980 בדרכיך 1870 עתה 6258 שׂימה 7760 לנו מלך 4428 לשׁפטנו 8199 ככל 3605 הגוים׃ 1471
