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1 Samuel 8:8
ESV According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
NIV As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
NASB Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well.
CSB They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods.
NLT Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.
KJV According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
NKJV According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.

What does 1 Samuel 8:8 mean?

God seems to be indicating that the people are doing to Samuel just as they have done to the Lord all along. God describes the history of His relationship with the people of Israel as one marked by unfaithfulness and rejection in the form of serving other gods and forsaking Him. This has been the case, the Lord says, since the day He brought them out of Egypt until right now.

Saying this equates Israel's desire for a king with the historical betrayals of God as their Lord and Provider. Instead of seeing how He provided victories and blessing when they remained faithful to Him, the people are more concerned about being like other nations. They want a centralized government with a standing army and a clear human chain of command.

For the Lord, the issue was not about whether Israel would ever have a human king. He had allowed for this in the Law (Deuteronomy 17:14–20). It was about the lack of trust in Him in that particular moment. The people believed a king would be more reliable leadership than God working through His human representatives.
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