1 Samuel 8:2 kjv
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
1 Samuel 8:2 nkjv
The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
1 Samuel 8:2 niv
The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.
1 Samuel 8:2 esv
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
1 Samuel 8:2 nlt
Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.
1 Samuel 8 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 8:1 | When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. | Context: Samuel appointing his sons. |
| 1 Sam 8:3 | His sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain... | Immediate context: Their corruption. |
| 1 Sam 8:5 | "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; appoint for us a king..." | Consequence: Israel's demand for a king. |
| 1 Sam 2:12 | The sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. | Parallel: Corrupt priestly sons. |
| 1 Sam 2:22 | Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing... | Parallel: Father's old age, sons' misconduct. |
| 1 Sam 3:13 | I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God... | Consequence of corrupt leadership (Eli's sons). |
| 1 Sam 4:17 | "The Israelites have fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead..." | Divine judgment on Eli's corrupt sons. |
| 1 Sam 7:15 | Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. | Contrast: Samuel's faithful judgeship. |
| 1 Sam 12:1-5 | Samuel addressed all Israel: "I have listened to your voice...and now here is the king..." | Samuel's righteous parting testimony. |
| Gen 21:31 | Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. | Significance of Beersheba as place of covenant. |
| Gen 26:33 | So he called its name Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day. | Significance of Beersheba for Isaac. |
| Gen 46:1 | So Israel took his journey with all that he had... and came to Beersheba... | Significance of Beersheba for Jacob's migration. |
| Amos 5:5 | "But do not seek Bethel, nor enter Gilgal, or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing." | Beersheba later becomes a place of idolatry. |
| Amos 8:14 | Those who swear by the Sin of Samaria, and say, "As your god, O Dan, lives!" and, "As the way of Beersheba lives!"... | Beersheba associated with false worship. |
| Prov 29:2 | When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. | Principle: Impact of corrupt leaders. |
| Psa 82:2-4 | "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?... Give justice to the weak and the orphan..." | Divine judgment on unjust judges. |
| Isa 1:23 | Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and chases after gifts... | Warning against corrupt officials. |
| Mic 3:9-11 | Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob... who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. Its heads give judgment for a bribe... | Warning against leadership corruption. |
| Deut 16:18 | "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns... and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment." | Divine command for righteous judgeship. |
| 1 Tim 3:4-5 | He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive... | Leadership qualification, family management. |
| Titus 1:7 | For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach, not self-willed... | Qualities for faithful Christian leadership. |
| Joel 1:1 | The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel. | Other notable "Joel" in scripture. |
1 Samuel 8 verses
1 Samuel 8 2 Meaning
This verse introduces Joel and Abijah, the two sons of Samuel, stating their names and indicating their positions as judges, specifically serving in Beersheba. It sets the immediate stage for the subsequent narrative by revealing their official roles and geographical assignment, prior to detailing their misconduct that ultimately prompts Israel's demand for a king.
1 Samuel 8 2 Context
This verse appears at the very beginning of a pivotal chapter in Israel's history, signaling the transition from the period of judges to the monarchy. Samuel, now old, had faithfully served as the last great judge. Unlike the charismatic judges called by God in earlier times, Samuel established his sons, Joel and Abijah, as judicial figures, perhaps as a form of succession plan. Beersheba, located at the southern extreme of Israel, indicates the extent of their appointed jurisdiction. The following verse (1 Sam 8:3) immediately reveals their corrupt practices—taking bribes and perverting justice—which serves as the direct catalyst for the elders of Israel to demand a king, arguing for a more stable and just form of leadership like the surrounding nations. Thus, 1 Samuel 8:2 provides the necessary backdrop, establishing the figures whose misconduct leads to a monumental shift in Israel's governmental structure.
1 Samuel 8 2 Word analysis
- Now: This adverb serves as a transitional marker, drawing the reader's attention to a new development or narrative segment. It signifies a continuation from the previous context, setting the stage for significant events.
- the name of his firstborn: In ancient Israel, a "firstborn" (בְּכוֹר - b'khor) held a special, often privileged, position and certain rights. While the office of judge was not strictly hereditary, Samuel's decision to appoint his sons, particularly the firstborn, suggests an attempt at succession planning for his leadership role. This hints at a deviation from the traditional divine calling for judges.
- was Joel: (יוֹאֵל - Yo'el). This name means "The LORD is God" or "Yahweh is God." The name is a confessional statement, reflecting Samuel's own faith. There is an ironic contrast between the meaning of their names—declarations of fidelity to Yahweh—and their later actions of injustice and corruption described in the following verse. This discrepancy foreshadows the failure of their inherited leadership.
- and the name of his second, Abijah: (אֲבִיָּה - 'Aviyah). This name means "My father is Yah" or "Yahweh is my father." Similar to Joel, this name is deeply pious and testifies to the family's supposed devotion to God. The incongruity between such devout names and the sons' corrupt behavior (v.3) emphasizes the internal spiritual decay, suggesting a disconnect between outward appearance and inward character.
- they were judges: (שֹׁפְטִים - shophtim). This term typically referred to leaders who "ruled," "decided," and "delivered" Israel, as seen in the Book of Judges. While Samuel's role included a wide range of national leadership, his sons likely functioned more as administrative or local judicial officers. The text here implies an established, formal appointment by Samuel, rather than a charismatic divine calling which marked earlier judges. The hereditary nature implied here for judgeship was problematic, as it was not God's established method for this office.
- in Beersheba: (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע - Be'er Sheva'). This place name means "Well of the Oath" or "Well of Seven," originating from the time of Abraham (Gen 21) and Isaac (Gen 26). Beersheba marked the southern frontier of ancient Israel ("from Dan to Beersheba"). Their judicial presence here signifies the geographical extent of their authority. The choice of Beersheba for their administration, perhaps remote from Samuel's own center, could suggest a degree of decentralized authority, potentially contributing to their independence and eventual corruption away from Samuel's direct oversight.
1 Samuel 8 2 Bonus section
The positioning of Joel and Abijah in Beersheba might imply a delegation of duties from Samuel, whose primary sphere of influence was more centrally located around Ramah. This geographical distance could have offered Samuel’s sons a greater degree of autonomy, allowing their corrupt practices to fester relatively unchecked. Their administrative appointments deviate from the charismatic leadership that typically defined judges throughout Israel's history; rather, it suggests an attempt by Samuel to establish a dynastic form of governance for the judiciary, which ultimately failed due to the sons' unrighteousness. This failure, similar to Eli’s inability to control his own sons, underscores a crucial principle for leadership, both ancient and contemporary: faithful personal conduct is paramount, and moral failures within a leader's own household can undermine their public ministry and lead to severe consequences for the community.
1 Samuel 8 2 Commentary
This verse is a succinct narrative setup, not directly stating a problem but foreshadowing it. It introduces Samuel’s two sons by name, Joel and Abijah, identifying them as judges serving in Beersheba. The names themselves, meaning "Yahweh is God" and "My father is Yahweh," are rich with pious significance, forming a stark and tragic irony when contrasted with their subsequent actions of injustice described in 1 Samuel 8:3. This verse immediately prepares the reader for the ethical failures that will destabilize Israel's leadership and precipitate their demand for a king. It highlights the recurring theme of failure in inter-generational transfer of righteous leadership (parallel to Eli's sons), indicating that position and inheritance alone do not guarantee fidelity or competence, ultimately paving the way for Israel's rejection of divine rule for human monarchy.