성경 주석서

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old. — Sixty at least, say interpreters; and so less able to do all himself. Omnia fert aetas, animum quoque … fert, i.e., aufert. Age disableth for duty many times.

That he made his sons judges over Israel. — Substitutes to himself, not without God’s permission and consent likely, being so holy a man. It may well be thought that he had given them good breeding, and had great hopes of their good behaviour in executing their office. It is probable also that at first they carried the matter well, till puffed up with their new dignity, and corrupted by gifts. Nero’s first five years were such that Trajan was wont to say, that none ever attained to the perfection of them. Be it that Samuel was some way faulty in setting up his sons, as there is no pomegranate but hath one or more rotten kernels in it, yet it is no way likely that he was guilty of that indulgence for which his own month had denounced God’s judgments against Eli: yet he succeeded him in his cross as well as his place, though not in his sin.

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Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beersheba.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel. — Which some Alsted. will have to be Joel the prophet, the son of Pethuel, that is, of Samuel, say they, Joel 1:1 as this Joel is called Vashni. 1 Chronicles 6:28 ; 1 Chronicles 6:33 He might afterwards repent of his government without righteousness, which is but robbery by authority, and be a prophet as was his father. Howsoever, he had a good son - viz., Heman the music master and a prophet. 1 Kings 4:31 1 Chronicles 6:33 ; 1 Chronicles 25:1 Psalms 88:1

They were judges in Beersheba, — i.e., From Dan to Beersheba, saith Junius: the one in Dan, the other in Beersheba, saith Josephus. Pellican thinketh they dwelt both at Beersheba, purposely to vex the people with long journeys for judgment: or at least out of a neglect toward them. Others hold that their father set them there to exercise that authority by him delegated unto them in the southern parts of the land, because they were so far remote from Ramah, and that he knew not of their bribery, …

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And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

And his sons walked not in his ways. — Heroum filii noxae. Grace is by gift, not inheritance. See Trapp on " 1 Samuel 3:12 " This was no fault of Samuel’s, as hath been said. Plato worthily blameth Darius for so ill breeding his son Xerxes, whereas he had seen the evil consequence in Cyrus’s breeding Cambyses, whom Darius succeeded in the empire.

But turned aside after lucre. — Whereas a public person, as he should have nothing to lose, so nothing to get: he should be above all price or sale. Nec prece, nec precio, should be his motto.

And perverted judgment. — Which to prevent, the Areopagites judged always in the dark, that they might neither respect persons nor take gifts.

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And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Behold, thou art old. — But what of that? was he therefore to be cast off as a Depontanus, a dotard? Or were they weary of receiving so many benefits by one man? But this is Merces mundi. Samuel was not so old but he could do his office, and did for many years after: but they had the itch of innovation, and would needs be of the mode of other nations. And besides all this, there was another pad lay in the straw, and that was the fear of Nahash, king of Ammon, who was now making great preparations against them. See 1 Samuel 12:12 . And hence this headlong and preposterous desire of theirs to change their aristocracy, or rather theocracy, as Josephus calleth it, into a monarchy: a king they would have upon any terms.

And thy sons walk not in thy ways. — But might they not have amended by wholesome admonition? or better judges have been set in their room? Must they needs be exauthorated, and the government altered?

Now make us a king to judge us. — Ut iudicet seu vindicet nos. But were they sure that their king would prove any better than Samuel’s sons had been? And was it so long since they had suffered deeply in Abimelech their king, set up by some of them to their cost? But these men are set upon it, being pricked forward by that unruly evil, ambition, that rideth without reins; they are stiffly resolved contra gentes, to have an absolute, constant, powerful, and pompous king as other nations had, though their condition were far unlike. Planeque non sine exemplo amentiae, praeoptabant libertatem servitio mutare, saith Sulpitius, Sacr. Hist., lib. i. i.e., so madly bent were they to change their liberty for slavery.

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But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

But the thing displeased Samuel. — Chiefly because he knew it was displeasing to God, 1 Samuel 8:7 and then as an indignity done to himself, by shaking off his government even while he lived. But this is the manner of the many headed multitude, Cui praesentia fastidio, insueta desiderio sunt, Sulpit. Sever., ibid. to loath things present, and to affect novelties; αει γαρ το παρον βαρυ , saith Thucydides, the present government is ever grievous; neither is the beauty of benefits seen but on the backside, that is, till men are bereft of them.

And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. — Consuluit Dominum praemissa oratione. - Vat. He was not so far displeased at the ungrateful people, but that he could, at the same time, pity them and pray for them. So did Moses before him, Exodus 32:19 ; Exodus 32:31 and our Saviour after him. Mark 3:5 Samuel prayed for the pardon of that sin of theirs, which they afterwards came to a sight of, and confessed against themselves. 1 Samuel 12:19 He also prayed, doubtless, for direction in that weighty work whereupon the people had put him.

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And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Hearken unto the voice of the people. — Verba sunt irati, these words were uttered in anger, as appeareth by Hosea 13:11 , q.d., Let them have a king, since they will needs have it so, but they shall soon have enough of him. Deus saepe dat iratus, quod negat propitius. It is not safe to prescribe to God, nor to be too importunate for any temporal blessing. Those in the gospel that indented for a penny a day had it, but had no good content with it.

For they have not rejected thee. — That is, Thee only, but me also. And if Phocion could say to one that was to die with him, Mayest thou not be glad to fare as Phocion fareth? Plutarch. how much more might Samuel take his rejection well, since God also was rejected. Christ was in like sort afterwards cast off by those that cried, We have no king but Caesar!

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According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

According to all the works which they have done. — Populus hic antiquum obtinet, these are no changelings, but as naught as need to be, and as they ever have been η παλαι γυνη , as it was said of Helena after her return from Troy, the same woman still; and as the Lord somewhere complaineth of this perverse people, "This hath been thy manner from thy youth."

And served other gods. — Who never did anything for them, nor could do: therefore Samuel had the less reason to repine. See John 13:16 Matthew 10:24-25 . King Alphonsus professed that he wondered not so much at his courtiers’ ingratitude toward him, as at God’s patience toward them and himself.

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Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Now therefore hearken. — See 1 Samuel 8:7 .

Protest solemnly unto them. — That they may fall with open eyes, and be left as inexcusable as they are wilful.

And show them the manner of the king. — Rationem istam, παμβισιλειαν , Arist., De Politic., p. 3. how he will domineer with Sic volo, sic iubeo: setting up his will for a law, as an absolute monarch. Luke 22:25

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