1. 1 Samuel 8:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did Samuel appoint his sons as judges?

1 Samuel 8:1 (ESV)

1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

Whilst it is possible that Samuel wanted to maintain rule in his family,1 it is more likely that he simply asked his sons to help him with judicial matters in the town of Beersheba.2 The office of judge was not hereditary like that of the priests (cf. Judges 8:23).3