Exposition of the Old and New Testament, by John Gill,
[1746-63], at sacred-texts.com 1 Kings (1 Samuel) sa1
8:0INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 8 This chapter relates, how that
Samuel being old, and his sons behaving ill, the people desired
to have a king set over them, Sa1 8:1, which case Samuel laid
before the Lord, and he was directed by him to yield to the
people's desire, but at the same time to set before them all the
disadvantages and ill consequences that would arise from thence,
which he did, Sa1 8:6, but they insisting upon it, nevertheless,
he gave them reason to expect that their request would be
granted, Sa1 8:19. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 8:1 sa1 8:1And it came to
pass, when Samuel was old,.... The common notion of the Jews is,
that he lived but fifty two years (t); when a man is not usually
called an old man, unless the infirmities of old age came upon
him sooner than they commonly do, through his indefatigable
labours from his childhood, and the cares and burdens of
government he had long bore; though s