SERIES I --- THE NATION UNITES --- LESSON 08

WE WANT A KING

A KING TO RULE THE LAND

From 1 Samuel 8

When Samuel grew old, he arranged for his two oldest sons, Joel and Abijah, to become judges in his place. But when they set up court in Beersheba, they did not judge justly as Samuel had done. Instead, they took bribes, accepted gifts and were unjust in their dealings. One day the elders of Israel met with Samuel at Ramah to talk about the matter. ‘You are growing old,’ they said ‘and your sons and heirs who are taking your place are not godly as you are. We want you to appoint a king to rule over us, as other nations have.’ Samuel was not happy to hear the people ask for a king, so he talked to Adonai about their request. ‘Let them have a king,’ YHVH answered, ‘but warn them about the problems they will have with a king ruling over them.’ Samuel told the people about Adonai’s warning. ‘The king you desire will force your sons to work as his horsemen and to run before his chariots. He will force some to fight his battles and lead his troops and others to plough his fields and reap his harvest. Some will make his weapons for him and others will make the equipment for his chariots. ‘Your king will also take your daughters to work as perfumers, cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, vineyards and olive orchards and put his servants in charge of them. A tenth of your harvest will be taken from you to feed the king’s attendants. The best of your servants, your cattle and donkeys, will be taken from you for the king’s service. When all of this happens, you will cry out to Adonai because of your king, but He will not answer you.’ The people would not listen to Samuel’s warning, but insisted on having a king. ‘We must have a king so we can be like the other nations around us,’ they said. ‘We want a king to rule us and lead us into battle.’ Samuel reported to Adonai what the people had said to him. ‘Give them a king!’ Adonai answered. Once again, Samuel spoke to his people and told them what Adonai had said. ‘Now, go home,’ he ordered.

COMMENTARY

THE LAND AND ITS PRODUCTS

Samuel’s sons did not follow their godly father’s path, just as Eli’s sons had not followed their godly father. The people of Israel did not want Samuel’s ungodly sons as their leaders and they demanded he anoint a king to lead them. The motive of the people of Israel was wrong. They wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations. Samuel resisted their demands, but Adonai told Samuel, [Let them have a king.] Samuel knew that Israelite kings would demand as much from their people as Canaanite kings did. They would take not only taxes, land and services, but also the best products of the land for use in the royal house. The Israelites of Samuel’s time drew their living from the land. Their chief products were the ordinary goods needed in daily living. The production of food was the largest and most important industry. Barley yielded large harvests in the light rains of the south, while wheat needed the heavier rainfall of the northern areas. Olive growers did well with the rich soil in Samaria and the hot sun brought forth vineyards of sweet grapes on Judea’s hillsides. To these major crops the Israelites added lentils, beans and many varieties of fruits and nuts. Home gardens often produced enough extra cucumbers, onions, garlic and other vegetables to sell in the market. On land unsuitable for farming, the Israelites raised cattle, sheep and goats. They provided meat and dairy products, as well as leather goods and a rough cloth made of goats’ hair. Sheep supplied daily clothing for most of the people. Spinning and weaving raw wool into cloth was an industry second only to farming. Linen was an important textile too. Woven from flax, it was finer and more expensive than wool. Israel’s other important products were also dependent on the land. Potters set up shop in villages where the clay was good and metalworkers settled near sites of copper ore. People of one area often concentrated on the same trade, because raw materials were available there. Woodworkers, for example, dwelt near forested areas, and merchants of salt lived near the Dead Sea.