God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 8:1
1When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
1 Samuel 8:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.
Context of 1 Samuel 8:1
When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel; the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3The sons didn’t follow their father’s example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.
Read all of 1 Samuel 81 Samuel 8:1 word by word
וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר זָקֵ֖ן שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־בָּנָ֛יו שֹׁפְטִ֖ים לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 8:1
- Deuteronomy 16:18Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city that the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people fairly.
- Judges 8:22The men of Israel said to Gideon, “You, then your son, and then your grandson, must rule us. You rescued us from Midian.”
- 2 Chronicles 19:5He appointed judges in the country, in each fortified city of Judah.
- Nehemiah 7:2I put my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was a trustworthy man, and he feared God more than most people do.
- 1 Timothy 5:21I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites.
- Judges 5:10You people who ride on brown donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and who walk on the road—think.
- Judges 10:4Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. He also had 30 towns that are still called Havvoth Jair to this day. They are in the region of Gilead.
- Judges 12:14He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 8:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1When Samuel was old - Supposed to be about sixty. He made his sons judges - He appointed them as his lieutenants to superintend certain affairs in Beer-sheba, which he could not conveniently attend to himself. But they were never judges in the proper sense of the word; Samuel was the last judge in Israel, and he judged it to the day of his death. See 1 Samuel 7:16.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1This verse implies a long period, probably not less than 20 years, of which we have no account except what is contained in the brief notice in 1 Samuel 7:13-17. The general idea conveyed is of a time of peace and prosperity, analogous to that under other Judges.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The evil government of Samuel's sons. (1-3) The Israelites ask for a king. (4-9) The manner of a king. (10-22) Verses 1-3 It does not appear that Samuel's sons were so profane and vicious as Eli's sons; but they were corrupt judges, they turned aside after lucre. Samuel took no bribes, but his sons did, and then they perverted judgment. What added to the grievance of the people was, that they were threatened by an invasion from Nahash, king of the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22When Israel was changing to a monarchy (rule by kings), neither God (1 Samuel 8:7–9) nor Samuel (1 Samuel 12:1–25) liked the people's request for a king. Saul, the first king (1 Samuel 9–11), did not succeed in his role (1 Samuel 13–31) and proved Samuel's warnings true (see 1 Samuel 8:10–18; compare 1 Samuel 16:1–13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181Sa 8:1-18. Occasioned by the Ill- Government of Samuel's Sons, the Israelites Ask a King. 1-5. when Samuel was old--He was now about fifty-four years of age, having discharged the office of sole judge for twelve years. Unable, from growing infirmities, to prosecute his circuit journeys through the country, he at length confined his magisterial duties to Ramah and its neighborhood (1Sa 7:15), delegating to his sons as his deputies the administration of…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 8:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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