Bible Strands
1 Samuel 10:25
Then Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samuel addresses the assembled nation immediately after the public acclamation of Saul as king. He stands before the people at the precise moment of political transition from the judge-led system to a monarchy.
The words — The text emphasizes מִשְׁפַּט הַמְּלֻכָּה (mishpat ham-melukkah), literally “the right or custom of the kingship,” and וַיִּכְתֹּב (va-yiḵtōv), “and he wrote.” Samuel records these regulations on a scroll and deposits it before the LORD to establish a permanent record.
The thread — This codification of royal expectations directly references the earlier warning in 1 Samuel 8:11 concerning the manner of the king and aligns with the Mosaic provision in Deuteronomy 17:14 for appointing a monarch. The scroll’s placement before the LORD connects human governance to divine oversight, later resonating with Ezekiel 45:9’s demand that leaders cease oppression and practice justice.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to acknowledge that earthly authority functions within divinely established boundaries. It demands that governance be measured against a written covenant standard rather than operating as unchecked royal prerogative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 8:11 He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.
- Deuteronomy 17:14 When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,”
- Ezekiel 45:9 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’
- Ezekiel 46:16 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons as an inheritance, it will belong to his descendants. It will become their property by inheritance.
- Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
- 1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
- Titus 3:1 Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
- 1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,