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and he will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and [he will set some] to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

Verse Takeaways

1

The Practical Cost of a King

Commentators explain that a human king would impose significant burdens. People would be conscripted against their will for military service, forced to farm the king's private lands, and compelled to manufacture weapons. John Gill notes that even seemingly honorable positions like 'captain' become undesirable when they are not freely chosen but are instead imposed by an absolute ruler.

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Book Overview

1 Samuel

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Commentaries

4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On 1 Samuel 8:12

18th Century

Theologian

This organization was as old as the time of Moses (Numbers 31:14; Deuteronomy 1:15) and also prevailed among the Philistine…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On 1 Samuel 8:12

19th Century

Bishop

To ear his ground. —To ear, that is, to plough. The word is an old word (Anglo-Saxon earian), and connected with…

John Gill

John Gill

On 1 Samuel 8:12

17th Century

Pastor

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains
over fifties
Which thou…

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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On 1 Samuel 8:10–22

17th Century

Minister

If they wished to have a king to rule them, as the eastern kings ruled their subjects, they would find the yoke exceedingly heavy. Those who submit…