1-samuel 8:20
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
American King James Version (AKJV)
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
American Standard Version (ASV)
that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
So that we may be like the other nations, and so that our king may be our judge and go out before us to war.
Webster's Revision
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
World English Bible
that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."
English Revised Version (ERV)
that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
Clarke's 1-samuel 8:20 Bible Commentary
May judge us - This appears to be a rejection of Samuel.
Go out before us - Be in every respect our head and governor.
And fight our battles - Be the general of our armies.
Barnes's 1-samuel 8:20 Bible Commentary
Fight our battles - It appears from 1 Samuel 12:12, that the warlike movements of Nahash had already begun to excite alarm.
Wesley's 1-samuel 8:20 Bible Commentary
8:20 Be like - What stupidity! It was their happiness that they were unlike all other nations, Numbers 23:9 1sa 8: , 33:28 , as in other glorious privileges, so especially in this, that the Lord was their immediate king and lawgiver. But they will have a king to go out before them, and to fight their battles. Could they desire a battle better fought for them than the last was, by Samuel's prayers and God's thunders? Were they fond to try the chance of war, at the same uncertainty that others did?And what was the issue? Their first king was slain in battle: and so was Joshua, one of the last and best.
