Thursday 5 December 2024
He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you..." (v. 11)
Background
Yesterday we read how the people asked Samuel for a king. Samuel’s ministry as a prophet is to relay to God’s people the words of God. It is clear in this passage that we are hearing Samuel’s unhappiness with the idea of a monarchy as well as God’s warning to the people to be careful what they wish for. The speech of Samuel stresses three negative aspects of rule by a king.
The first is a militarisation of society. Samuel envisages that the king will want a standing army and will conscript men into service (v. 11). However, this seems to fit one of the people’s demands. They want a military leader (v. 20) who will “go before us and fight our battles”. There is an inference to be drawn: one of the concerns of the elders is for national security, perhaps remembering that the end of the house of Eli (to which the family of Samuel is implicitly being compared) came through a catastrophic defeat in battle (4:1-12).
The role of the army will be more than to fight (v. 12) and conscription has a wider meaning. Samuel warns the people of a broader loss of liberty: the king will require large numbers of servants and will feel free to demand that service. Some will be required to work the land; others will be deployed in domestic service in the palaces. Samuel predicts that, in short, “you will be his slaves.” (v. 17)
The third development that Samuel warns the people to expect is an increase in taxation. We have no way of knowing (aside from the demands of the sacrificial system) what form of revenue-raising was in place in the time of the Judges, but Samuel predicts (v. 15) that under the monarchy the king will not only tax at a fixed rate (a tenth) but will feel free to help himself to the best that the land has produced and those close to the king (his officers and courtiers) will enrich themselves at the expense of the general population. Monarchy, Samuel believes, will lead to greater inequality.
Still, the people are adamant and Samuel concedes to their demand, sending them away. The people have asked that he appoint the king (v. 5), so Samuel is left with a task of discernment.
To Ponder:
- Historically, there has often been a close link between monarchy and military leadership; there has also been a close link between monarchy and the organised religion of the state. Those of us in Britain saw that in the coronation in 2022. How compatible do you feel those two elements of royal rule are?
- Samuel is the instrument of God’s voice in this chapter and throughout the book. How do those who are called to speak on God’s behalf distinguish between their own opinions and what God is saying to God’s people?
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Jonathan Hustler
Jonathan Hustler is a presbyter who currently serves as the Secretary of the Conference.