We'll Have What They're Having: One King to Go

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting July 11 to study 1 Samuel 8.  First Samuel is mostly about the transition of Israel from a confederation to a monarchy.  Chapters 8 through 12 are the account of Israel getting their first king.  His reign then continues from 13 through the rest of the book (Chapter 31).

There are details in this chapter that reflect an attitude toward a monarchy, consider that tone as you read through it.  Hold that thought as you read through the rest of the book as well.  Next consider the motivation of the people to ask for a king.  What sort of problem are they trying to solve here, and what makes a monarchy the preferred solution?

After reading through the chapter a few times with the above considerations, read through again with the questions below:

• Where is Beersheba in relation to Ramah on a map (see below)?
• Why do you think Samuel sent both sons to the same place?
• What affect do you think the distance had on Samuel's sons as they judged?
• What prompts the elders of Israel to visit Samuel?
• What is the problem they are having?
• So, if they went 20 years without a judge after Eli (1 Samuel 7:2), why do you think this is a problem now for them now?
• The solution for the elders is a king.  What reasons do they mention?  What do you think might be reasons they aren't mentioning?
• Samuel goes to God, what does God say about this?  How often has He been putting up with such things?
• The "procedure" or "ways" of the king is actually the word for "judge" which the people have been using.  What different things do you notice that this word refers to in this chapter?  
• What sort of things make up this "procedure"?
• The people's response adds a reason to why they want a king.  What is the added reason?  Is that really how it works?
• What are God's instructions to Samuel?

This begins the narrative of the monarchy.  From here on, it is a system of prophets and kings.