Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
The verse names Samuel's firstborn as Joel and his second son as Abiah, and locates their service as judges in Beer-sheba. They were appointed to aid and share their father's laborious work of judging as he grew old, serving as his assistants at Beer-sheba near Israel's southern border while Samuel continued at Ramah. Samuel had judged Israel from his youth as a righteous and impartial judge and faithful servant of the Lord in all his work, but he was becoming old.
His sons did not follow his footsteps, ways and example but turned aside and yielded to temptation, and though they were not vile like the children of Eli they were dishonest and double-minded. Their love of reward and money corrupted their judging into arrogance and injustice, favoring the cause of the unrighteous, taking bribes and perverting justice.
Their conduct caused dissatisfaction among the people and gave them grounds to complain to Israel's elders and to demand a king. In demanding a king the people discarded Samuel before God had released him, in order to be like other nations and to be recognized by the world; Samuel was distressed and prayed, and God directed him to listen to the voice of the people and let their voice decide. The setting shows the Lord has a controversy with His people because they have left their first love, a spirit repeated when God's work is carried on by unsanctified human judgment and worldly policy, laying plans God has not given and separating the work from God's management, rule and control. The failure of Samuel's sons did not make it necessary for others to forsake the Lord.
The verse names Samuel's firstborn as Joel and his second son as Abiah, and locates their service as judges in Beer-sheba. They were appointed to aid and share their father's laborious work of judging as he grew old, serving as his assistants at Beer-sheba near Israel's southern border while Samuel continued at Ramah. Samuel had judged Israel from his youth as a righteous and impartial judge and faithful servant of the Lord in all his work, but he was becoming old.
His sons did not follow his footsteps, ways and example but turned aside and yielded to temptation, and though they were not vile like the children of Eli they were dishonest and double-minded. Their love of reward and money corrupted their judging into arrogance and injustice, favoring the cause of the unrighteous, taking bribes and perverting justice.
Their conduct caused dissatisfaction among the people and gave them grounds to complain to Israel's elders and to demand a king. In demanding a king the people discarded Samuel before God had released him, in order to be like other nations and to be recognized by the world; Samuel was distressed and prayed, and God directed him to listen to the voice of the people and let their voice decide. The setting shows the Lord has a controversy with His people because they have left their first love, a spirit repeated when God's work is carried on by unsanctified human judgment and worldly policy, laying plans God has not given and separating the work from God's management, rule and control. The failure of Samuel's sons did not make it necessary for others to forsake the Lord.