1 Samuel 8

“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.” Naming Abiah and Beer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.” The line’s distinctive content terms include aside, bribes, judgment. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,” Naming Israel and Ramah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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 line’s distinctive content terms include judge, king, nations. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD .” Naming Samuel and Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not…” Naming Hearken and Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day…” Naming According and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.” Naming Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include captains, instruments, appoint. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bakers, confectionaries, cooks. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include best, fields, oliveyards. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.” The line’s distinctive content terms include officers, seed, servants. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them…” The line’s distinctive content terms include asses, goodliest, maidservants. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;” Naming Nay and Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.” The line’s distinctive content terms include battles, fight, judge. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD .” Naming Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.