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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 8:20 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Sa 8:20 |
King James |
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| Fight our battles - It appears from Sa1 12:12, that the warlike movements of Nahash had already begun to excite alarm. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Be like - What stupidity! It was their happiness that they were unlike all other nations, Num 23:9; Deu 33:28, as in other glorious privileges, so especially in this, that the Lord was their immediate king and lawgiver. But they will have a king to go out before them, and to fight their battles. Could they desire a battle better fought for them than the last was, by Samuel's prayers and God's thunders? Were they fond to try the chance of war, at the same uncertainty that others did? And what was the issue? Their first king was slain in battle: and so was Joshua, one of the last and best. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
May judge us - This appears to be a rejection of Samuel.
Go out before us - Be in every respect our head and governor.
And fight our battles - Be the general of our armies. |
12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.