And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
Samuel set this before Israel as God's solemn protest to show the manner, costs and burdens of the human king they were demanding. It means their king would take a tenth of their seed, crops and vineyards and the income and profit of their labor and land, and give it to his officers and servants to support his royal state and household. That royal tenth would be an added oppressive tax on top of the tenth already due to the Lord, one of the heavy exactions that would burden them and make them servants to the king. In asking for a visible earthly king like the surrounding nations in order to be like them and seek national glory, they were rejecting God that He should not reign over them and casting aside His direct rule and wisdom for their own judgment. The warning was fulfilled when exalted unworthy rulers made the innocent suffer and dependence on visible power weakened the nation to its ruin, the same folly repeated whenever God's workers rely on themselves and worldly policy instead of humility, prayer and being led and controlled by God in all ways.
Warning of Royal Taxation
This verse is part of Samuel's warning about the burdens a human king would impose on the Israel that demanded one. It was given as God's solemn protest, plainly setting forth the manner of the king they wanted and the costs and burdens that would come with him. It belongs to the warning about the heavy tribute and oppression that would follow that choice.
It means the king would take a tenth of the people's seed, crops, vineyards and vineyard produce. That tenth covered their income, including the profits of their labor and land. He would give what he took to his officers and servants to support them and to maintain his royal state, household and service.
That royal tenth was an additional tax on top of the tenth the people already gave to the Lord. It was oppressive taxation to support the royal household and its service, part of the heavy tribute and burdensome exactions laid upon them. Those exactions would burden and oppress them and make them servants of the king. Once the monarchy was established, they could not simply end it.
Rejecting God for Kings
Israel demanded an earthly, visible human king like those of the surrounding nations, in order to be like all the nations, to be recognized by the world, and to seek glory as a nation. That choice set visible human power above God's guidance and made dependence on what could be seen a source of weakness. The demand was a rejection of God that He should not reign over them, a renouncing of the divine theocracy and a refusal of His direct rule, management and jurisdiction. By the people's voice they decided to discard Samuel before God had released him, holding to their own judgment and casting aside God's wisdom.
Samuel was distressed by their course and prayed unto the Lord, yet under God's direction he faithfully told the people all these words. The plain warning was given to show them that their way was not the right and best way but the desire of unsanctified hearts. The people did not change their purpose, so the Lord had a controversy with them because they had left their first love, and He permitted them to have their own way.
The warning was fulfilled in what kingship brought, for royal power exalted unworthy rulers and made innocent people suffer. The ruler's example helped society become irreligious and godless. Dependence on visible power proved weakness rather than strength, and ultimately led to Jerusalem's destruction and the nation's dispersion.
The same folly is repeated whenever those entrusted with God's work are not led of God but rely on themselves and on human judgment. Then they lay plans He never purposed and manage by worldly policy and human judgment, and like professing Christians seeking gain and approval they choose worldly patterns and confidence in human leadership. What is needed instead is humility, prayer, and dependence on being led and controlled by God in all ways. Without experience of His power in establishing the work, people do not know the blessing and safety of His leading.
Samuel set this before Israel as God's solemn protest to show the manner, costs and burdens of the human king they were demanding. It means their king would take a tenth of their seed, crops and vineyards and the income and profit of their labor and land, and give it to his officers and servants to support his royal state and household. That royal tenth would be an added oppressive tax on top of the tenth already due to the Lord, one of the heavy exactions that would burden them and make them servants to the king. In asking for a visible earthly king like the surrounding nations in order to be like them and seek national glory, they were rejecting God that He should not reign over them and casting aside His direct rule and wisdom for their own judgment. The warning was fulfilled when exalted unworthy rulers made the innocent suffer and dependence on visible power weakened the nation to its ruin, the same folly repeated whenever God's workers rely on themselves and worldly policy instead of humility, prayer and being led and controlled by God in all ways.
Warning of Royal Taxation
This verse is part of Samuel's warning about the burdens a human king would impose on the Israel that demanded one. It was given as God's solemn protest, plainly setting forth the manner of the king they wanted and the costs and burdens that would come with him. It belongs to the warning about the heavy tribute and oppression that would follow that choice.
It means the king would take a tenth of the people's seed, crops, vineyards and vineyard produce. That tenth covered their income, including the profits of their labor and land. He would give what he took to his officers and servants to support them and to maintain his royal state, household and service.
That royal tenth was an additional tax on top of the tenth the people already gave to the Lord. It was oppressive taxation to support the royal household and its service, part of the heavy tribute and burdensome exactions laid upon them. Those exactions would burden and oppress them and make them servants of the king. Once the monarchy was established, they could not simply end it.
Rejecting God for Kings
Israel demanded an earthly, visible human king like those of the surrounding nations, in order to be like all the nations, to be recognized by the world, and to seek glory as a nation. That choice set visible human power above God's guidance and made dependence on what could be seen a source of weakness. The demand was a rejection of God that He should not reign over them, a renouncing of the divine theocracy and a refusal of His direct rule, management and jurisdiction. By the people's voice they decided to discard Samuel before God had released him, holding to their own judgment and casting aside God's wisdom.
Samuel was distressed by their course and prayed unto the Lord, yet under God's direction he faithfully told the people all these words. The plain warning was given to show them that their way was not the right and best way but the desire of unsanctified hearts. The people did not change their purpose, so the Lord had a controversy with them because they had left their first love, and He permitted them to have their own way.
The warning was fulfilled in what kingship brought, for royal power exalted unworthy rulers and made innocent people suffer. The ruler's example helped society become irreligious and godless. Dependence on visible power proved weakness rather than strength, and ultimately led to Jerusalem's destruction and the nation's dispersion.
The same folly is repeated whenever those entrusted with God's work are not led of God but rely on themselves and on human judgment. Then they lay plans He never purposed and manage by worldly policy and human judgment, and like professing Christians seeking gain and approval they choose worldly patterns and confidence in human leadership. What is needed instead is humility, prayer, and dependence on being led and controlled by God in all ways. Without experience of His power in establishing the work, people do not know the blessing and safety of His leading.