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Pentecost Season · Proper 5 · Year B

1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15)

Israel Demands a King

June 6, 2027

Samuel and Saul, Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert
Samuel and Saul, Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert, c. 1648
A Dutch painting of the prophet and the king, with Samuel delivering the warning and Saul already impatient with it.Give us a king to govern us, like other nations. The reading is a people asking for the thing they will regret.
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMark 3:20-35Mk 3:20-35
Epistle2 Cor. 4:13-5:12 Cor 4:13-5:1
Old Testament1 Sam. 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15)1 Sm 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15)Alt. OTGen. 3:8-15Gn 3:8-15
PsalterPs. 138Ps 138Alt. PsalmPs. 130Ps 130

Overview & Insights

"They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them." (1 Samuel 8:7)

Israel's elders ask the aging Samuel to appoint a king so they can be like other nations. God tells Samuel the request rejects God's own rule, and Samuel warns of the heavy burdens a king will impose, but the people refuse to listen and insist on a king.

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Take it further: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15)

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4-11, 16-20Commentary on 1 Sm 8:4-11, 16-20 Working Preacher

Weekly exegesis of the reading by a named Luther Seminary scholar for Year B Proper 5.

1 Samuel 8:4-20 Commentary1 Sm 8:4-20 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed, sermon-shaped reading of the demand for a king.

1 Samuel 8: Israel Demands a King1 Sm 8: Israel Demands a King Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the chapter.

1 Samuel 8 Commentary1 Sm 8 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of quotations and cross-references verse by verse.

1 Samuel 8:4 commentaries1 Sm 8:4 commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the passage in one place.

Background & Word Study

1 Samuel 8:4 interlinear1 Sm 8:4 interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word-by-word with parsing and Strong's numbers for close study.

I Samuel 8 in Hebrew Sefaria

The Hebrew text with English alongside and traditional Jewish commentary links.

The Church Fathers

Catena on 1 Samuel 8Catena on 1 Sm 8 Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on Israel's demand for a king.

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