1 Sam 8:6-10
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The Old Testament > 1 Samuel > Chapter 8
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Questions
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Lexical notes
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Exegesis
Verse 7-9: God's view of a kings for Israel
In these verses, God tells Samuel to grant Israel's request for a king, but also to "protest solemnly unto them" and to describe "the manner of the king that shall reign over them" (v. 9). In previous scriptures, God has promised that Israel would have "kings" (cf. Gen 17:6, 16; 35:11; 36:31; Deut 17:14-20), including a "kingdom" (cf. Ex 19:6; Num 24:7) and a "dominion" (Num 24:19). These promises could be taken as God having designs for Israel to have a king because it would be desirable. Alternatively, the precedcing scriptures about kings could be taken as prophecy. For example, Deut 17:14-20 is often taken as simply a prophecy of Israelite kings, not something that God promises to Israel as a blessing or as part of God's originally designed plans for Israel. Regardless, God's condemnation of Israel in verse 7 for rejecting Him as their king (and desiring to be "like all the nations" in verse 5) seems to be the rationale for Samuel's warning about kings in verses 11-18 and chapter 12.
The Davidic Covenant as given in 2 Sam 7:11-16 may also have relevance for discerning God's view of kings for Israel. One argument would be that if Christ was foreordained (1 Pet 1:20) to be the King of kings (1 Tim 6:15), then this presupposes a kingdom for Israel. This discussion might also be connected with Mosiah 29, where King Mosiah gives a lengthy speech condemning kingship in general. It should be noted, however, that a broader reading of the Book of Mormon does not suggest that the switch from kingship to judgeship resulted in a more general salvation or in a more righteous people. Rather, the rise of something other than a monarchy led to some of the greatest periods of depravity in Nephite history. Perhaps the key verse there--one which sheds a great deal of light on the issue as presented in these verses--is Mosiah 29:38. There it is clear that the distinction between monarchy and some other, more "democratic" form of government is a question of responsibility. It may, therefore, be that the Lord's opinion on government is dependent upon His purposes at any given point in history: wherever He desires that there be responsibility, He sets up that possibility.
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