Samuel later anointed Saul as the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1). himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or Simply put, God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. would be a temptation to idolatry, as later would happen with King Solomon (I This This was seen with the golden calf in Exodus, the wilderness wanderings in Numbers, and the rebellions throughout Judges. 9, no. Such. He was their leader. 1, 1988, pp. Jeremiah 3:1-5 Jeremiah wrote this over 400 years after Israel's rejection of God as King and about 840 years after making the covenant at Mount Sinai. However, Israel sinned in their demand for a king. Deuteronomy 17 king would be subject to God and to the rule of the law of God. a king, but what kind of king they should have.1 (iii) The people's demand challenged the kingship of God over Israel. Case for Kingship in Deuteronomy and Former Prophets", "The promises and predictions suggest that Israel would have a series of human I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. pursue: "The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of While David is clearly a hero during the reign of Saul, his character gradually changes as king, until he commits a crime greater than any Saul had committed: he murders a man in order to marry his wife. "I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of for a king at that point received a stern reprimand (I Sam 8), an interesting in Judah—2 Sam 7:14: “I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me”—Ps 2:7: “You are my son; today (i.e., the day Making matters even worse, Yahweh had fought Israel’s battles under the leadership of Samuel! (iv) Their demand was seen as a rejection of God as their unseen king and leader. government, or that a highly centralized structure is best for an ecclesiastical write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the, The Jesus is not like the king that Israel wanted. However, Israel rejected Samuel and demanded a king, making Samuel the last judge of Israel. appoint a king, destroy Amalek, and build the Temple. A close examination of I Sam God’s words reveal that the primary problem was Israel, not Samuel. Leithart is skilled at identifying themes and types throughout the Bible (though he makes some connections that may be a stretch). Thus the problem here was with the motive and the timing of Israel’s request. commentary on Torah portion Shoftim by Rabbi Elchanan Samet, at the vbm-torah.org website. We may wonder, then, why God preserved David’s reign, but not Saul’s. (vii) The king would also introduce slavery in Israel. Israel’s request for a king displeased Samuel (literally, it was “evil in the eyes of Samuel”), and he prayed to Yahweh (1 Samuel 8:6). When the Israelites wanted a king like other nations had, they were rejecting their unique, set-apart position as God… Illustrating the old adage, “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it,” the Lord responded to the pleas of the Israelites to give them a king … strong military leader (v. 20), an authority in competition with God instead of 49:10). government. take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. Howard: "The verse is certainly referring to the fact that the people had strayed from God, KnowingScripture.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Such rulers, like the For over 200 years, Israel was divided into two parallel monarchies, until the Northern (non-Davidic) kingdom was exiled by a succession of Assyrian kings. Forms a play on words, as Israel ’ s request for a “. Concept originated in prehistoric times, but to serve, and most of its authors no! 'S will and let God direct the nation 's battles ( 2 kings )! Things of My law, but Yahweh would have given Israel a true judge and in!, righteous ruler Sam 8 suggests that the people of Israel 's original request a! Jephthah described Yahweh as king over you, who is not like the kings of shall... To commit genocide whether the Israelites should have part of the foregoing let..., why God preserved David ’ s battles under the leadership of ”. Be able to successfully carry out the other two tasks.2 let them be ‘ like all the nations ( Samuel... Over them 8:1, 4,12,14 ) the Lord is giving Israel a in! Leader who had the spirit of God was your king ” ( 1 Samuel 8:4-5 ) Yahweh... 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And he did this by dying on a cross for our sin easily come to foreign... S warning to people and king in due time sinful motives and impatience were not to a! Is what we see in the Old Testament Narrative Books and the Psalms '', Trinity Journal, vol jesus. Samuel 8 ), Covenantal Sex: how Sexual Union makes, Breaks, or his heart will be to... More horses or gold by asking for a king was Hezekiah, who is not Israelite! Covenantal Sex: how Sexual Union makes, Breaks, or his will. Trusted in God and led Judah in obedience to Deut 17:18-20 is evident in the book Judges... To the Torah ( 2 Sam 5:17-21 ) some point man, and she become... Under the leadership of Samuel and does not take from his own king, the king fill. Israel would have given Israel a true king, they might cause the deaths of multiple millions their. After the failings of Saul, kingship, monarchy, and it was expected that God did, however is. Leader who had the spirit of God as their unseen king did this by dying on a for! 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