This chapter relates, how that Samuel being old, and his sons behaving ill, the people desired to have a king set over them, 1Sa 8:1, which case Samuel laid before the Lord, and he was directed by him to yield to the people's desire, but at the same time to set before them all the disadvantages and ill consequences that would arise from thence, which he did, 1Sa 8:6, but they insisting upon it, nevertheless, he gave them reason to expect that their request would be granted, 1Sa 8:19.
Ver. 1. And it came to pass, when Samuel was old,.... The common notion of the Jews is, that he lived but fifty two years ; when a man is not usually called an old man, unless the infirmities of old age came upon him sooner than they commonly do, through his indefatigable labours from his childhood, and the cares and burdens of government he had long bore; though some think he was about sixty years of age; and Abarbinel is of opinion that he was more than seventy.
It is a rule with the Jews , that a man is called an old man at sixty, and a grey headed man at seventy:that he made his sons judges over Israel; under himself, not being able through old age to go the circuits he used; he sent them, and appointed them to hear and try causes in his stead, or settled them in some particular places in the land, and, as it seems by what follows, at Beersheba; though whether that was under his direction, or was their own choice, is not certain.
Seder Olam Rabba, ut supra. (c. 13. p. 35.) Pirke Abot, c. 5. sect.