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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 8:20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/8-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/09_1Sa_08_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 8:20 - God Grants the Request" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_samuel/8-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_samuel/8-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/">1 Samuel</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/8.htm">Chapter 8</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_samuel/8-19.htm" title="1 Samuel 8:19">◄</a> 1 Samuel 8:20 <a href="/1_samuel/8-21.htm" title="1 Samuel 8:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/8.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />so that we too may be like all the nations [around us], that our king may judge [and govern] us and go out before us and fight our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then we&#8217ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then we, too, will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us out [to war], and fight our battles."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />so that we will be like other nations, with our own king to rule us and to lead us out to war and to fight our battles." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />We, too, will be like all the nations! Our king will govern us and go out before us to fight our battles."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />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."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />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.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king has judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king hath judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And we were as all the nations; and our king judged us and went out before us, and fought our battles.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and tight our battles for us. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />We too must be like all the nations, with a king to rule us, lead us in warfare, and fight our battles.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And we will also be like all of the nations, and our King will judge us, and he will go forth before us and he shall fight our battles!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />An we also will be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and shall go out before us, and fight our battles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/8-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=1985" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/8.htm">God Grants the Request</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19</span>Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/587.htm" title="587: ’ă·naḥ·nū (Pro-1cp) -- We. Apparently from 'anokiy; we.">Then we will</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yî·nū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">be</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: ḡam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kə·ḵāl- (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">like all</a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: hag·gō·w·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">the other nations,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: mal·kê·nū (N-msc:: 1cp) -- King. From malak; a king.">with a king</a> <a href="/hebrew/8199.htm" title="8199: ū·šə·p̄ā·ṭā·nū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms:: 1cp2) -- To judge, govern. ">to judge us,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: wə·yā·ṣā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">to go out</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lə·p̄ā·nê·nū (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before us,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3898.htm" title="3898: wə·nil·ḥam (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To feed on, to consume, to battle. A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle.">and to fight</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4421.htm" title="4421: mil·ḥă·mō·ṯê·nū (N-fpc:: 1cp) -- A battle, war. From lacham; a battle; generally, war.">our battles.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/17-14.htm">Deuteronomy 17:14-15</a></span><br />When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” / you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/8-23.htm">Judges 8:23</a></span><br />But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-10.htm">Hosea 13:10-11</a></span><br />Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? / So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-12.htm">1 Samuel 12:12</a></span><br />But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/10-19.htm">1 Samuel 10:19</a></span><br />But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-17.htm">1 Samuel 12:17-19</a></span><br />Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.” / So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. / They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/10-24.htm">1 Samuel 10:24</a></span><br />Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-13.htm">1 Samuel 12:13</a></span><br />Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/9-16.htm">1 Samuel 9:16</a></span><br />“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/11-14.htm">1 Samuel 11:14-15</a></span><br />Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” / So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-1.htm">1 Samuel 15:1</a></span><br />Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-1.htm">1 Samuel 12:1-2</a></span><br />Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king. / Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/10-1.htm">1 Samuel 10:1</a></span><br />Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/11-12.htm">1 Samuel 11:12</a></span><br />Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/13-13.htm">1 Samuel 13:13-14</a></span><br />“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. / But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/8-5.htm">1 Samuel 8:5</a></b></br> And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/33-16.htm">Exodus 33:16</a></b></br> For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? <i>is it</i> not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that <i>are</i> upon the face of the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-24.htm">Leviticus 20:24-26</a></b></br> But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God, which have separated you from <i>other</i> people… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_timothy/6-4.htm">Battles</a> <a href="/exodus/33-15.htm">Conduct</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-6.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-2.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-6.htm">Lead</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-5.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-12.htm">War</a> <a href="/judges/3-1.htm">Wars</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/18-17.htm">Battles</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-15.htm">Conduct</a> <a href="/1_samuel/12-7.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-15.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-2.htm">Lead</a> <a href="/1_samuel/27-8.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/1_samuel/10-26.htm">War</a> <a href="/2_samuel/8-10.htm">Wars</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-1.htm">By occasion of the ill government of Samuel's sons, the Israelites ask a king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-6.htm">Samuel praying in grief is comforted by God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-10.htm">He tells the manner of a king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-19.htm">God wills Samuel to yield unto the importunity of the people</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then we will be like all the other nations</b><br>The Israelites' desire to be like other nations reflects a significant shift in their identity and mission. Historically, Israel was called to be a distinct people, set apart by God (<a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5-6</a>). This request indicates a rejection of their unique covenant relationship with God, who was their true King. The desire to conform to surrounding nations suggests a lack of faith in God's provision and protection, as well as a misunderstanding of their role as a light to the Gentiles (<a href="/isaiah/42-6.htm">Isaiah 42:6</a>).<p><b>with a king to judge us</b><br>The request for a king to judge them shows a desire for centralized human leadership, contrasting with the theocratic system where God was their judge and leader. This reflects a cultural influence from neighboring nations, where kingship was common. The role of a king in ancient Near Eastern societies included not only governance but also religious duties, which could lead to idolatry and deviation from worshiping Yahweh alone. This request foreshadows the eventual establishment of the monarchy in Israel, beginning with Saul, and highlights the tension between divine and human authority.<p><b>to go out before us</b><br>The phrase "to go out before us" indicates a desire for a visible, human leader to lead them in battle and daily affairs. This reflects a lack of trust in God's invisible presence and guidance, which had been demonstrated through leaders like Moses and Joshua. The Israelites' request for a king to lead them physically into battle contrasts with the biblical narrative where God Himself often led and fought for Israel (<a href="/exodus/14-14.htm">Exodus 14:14</a>, <a href="/joshua/5-13.htm">Joshua 5:13-15</a>).<p><b>and to fight our battles</b><br>The desire for a king to fight their battles reveals a shift from reliance on divine intervention to human military strength. Throughout Israel's history, God had delivered them from their enemies through miraculous means (e.g., the parting of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho). This request signifies a move towards self-reliance and away from faith in God's power. It also foreshadows the future military campaigns under kings like Saul and David, where human leadership would play a significant role, yet often with divine assistance or correction. This longing for a human king to fight battles can be seen as a type pointing to Jesus Christ, the ultimate King who fights and wins the spiritual battle against sin and death on behalf of His people (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-57.htm">1 Corinthians 15:57</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/samuel.htm">Samuel</a></b><br>The last judge of Israel, a prophet who served as a bridge between the period of the judges and the monarchy. He was instrumental in anointing the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of Israel who demanded a king to lead them, desiring to be like other nations despite God's unique covenant relationship with them.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign ruler of Israel, who had been their king and leader, guiding them through prophets and judges.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/n/nations.htm">Nations</a></b><br>The surrounding peoples and kingdoms that had human kings, which the Israelites desired to emulate.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/monarchy.htm">Monarchy</a></b><br>The system of governance that the Israelites requested, marking a significant shift from the theocratic rule under judges to a centralized human monarchy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/desire_for_conformity.htm">Desire for Conformity</a></b><br>The Israelites' request for a king reflects a human tendency to conform to societal norms rather than uphold distinctiveness as God's people. Believers today must guard against the pressure to conform to worldly standards.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_trust.htm">Leadership and Trust</a></b><br>The demand for a king reveals a misplaced trust in human leadership over divine guidance. Christians are called to trust in God's sovereignty and His plans for leadership in their lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_choices.htm">Consequences of Choices</a></b><br>Israel's choice to have a king led to both immediate and long-term consequences. Believers should consider the potential outcomes of their decisions, seeking God's wisdom and guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite Israel's rejection of His kingship, God remained sovereign and worked through the monarchy to fulfill His purposes. This reminds us that God can use even our misguided choices for His glory.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/identity_in_christ.htm">Identity in Christ</a></b><br>Just as Israel was called to be distinct, Christians are called to find their identity in Christ, not in the patterns of the world.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 8</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_1_samuel_8_an_edited_text.htm">Could 1 Samuel 8 reflect later editorial influences rather than an authentic historical event?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_sudden_monarchy_shift_in_1_sam_8.htm">Is there any archaeological evidence supporting a sudden shift to monarchy in Israel during 1 Samuel 8’s timeframe? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_allow_evil_leaders.htm">Why does God permit evil and sinful leaders?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_lacks_evidence_of_psalm_47_3's_claim.htm">Why does Psalm 47:3's description of subduing nations lack clear archaeological or historical traces of this alleged domination?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Like all the nations.</span>--There is something strangely painful in these terms with which the elders urged their request--the wish "to be like other nations" seems to have been very strong with them. They forgot, or chose to ignore, the solitary position of lofty pre-eminence God had given them among the nations. They had, it is true, failed to comprehend it in past, as in present days, but this haste to give up their lofty privileges, and to descend from the pedestal on which their God had set them, was in the eye of one like Samuel a strange inexplicable foolishness.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/8-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then we will</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנַ֖חְנוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·naḥ·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_587.htm">Strong's 587: </a> </span><span class="str2">We</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָיִ֥ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·yî·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like all</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּכָל־</span> <span class="translit">(kə·ḵāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the other nations,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגּוֹיִ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gō·w·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with a king</span><br /><span class="heb">מַלְכֵּ֙נוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(mal·kê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to judge us,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּשְׁפָטָ֤נוּ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·šə·p̄ā·ṭā·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8199.htm">Strong's 8199: </a> </span><span class="str2">To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to go out</span><br /><span class="heb">וְיָצָ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·yā·ṣā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before us,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·p̄ā·nê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and to fight</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִלְחַ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nil·ḥam)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3898.htm">Strong's 3898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To feed on, to consume, to battle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">our battles.”</span><br /><span class="heb">מִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(mil·ḥă·mō·ṯê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4421.htm">Strong's 4421: </a> </span><span class="str2">A battle, war</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/8-20.htm">1 Samuel 8:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/8-20.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 8:20 That we also may be like all (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/8-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 8:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 8:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/8-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 8:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 8:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>