1. 1 Samuel 8:4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who were the elders of Israel?

1 Samuel 8:4 (ESV)

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah

The elders of Israel are a group of senior tribal leaders, seventy in Numbers 11:16–17, entrusted with important decision making (see Exodus 18:13–27; Deuteronomy 1:9–13). They were representatives of the people, tribal heads who had influence in Israel.1