4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah
4 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4
Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4-9
(Read 1 Samuel 8:4-9)
Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them that they shall have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but as sometimes he opposes us from loving-kindness, so at other times he gratifies us in wrath; he did so here. God knows how to bring glory to himself, and serves his own wise purposes, even by men's foolish counsels.