1 Samuel 8:2
New International Version
The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.

New Living Translation
Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.

English Standard Version
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.

Berean Standard Bible
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

King James Bible
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

New King James Version
The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.

New American Standard Bible
The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

NASB 1995
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

NASB 1977
Now the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

Legacy Standard Bible
The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

Amplified Bible
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

Christian Standard Bible
His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.

American Standard Version
Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.

English Revised Version
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The name of his firstborn son was Joel; the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

Good News Translation
The older son was named Joel and the younger one Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.

International Standard Version
The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.

Majority Standard Bible
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

NET Bible
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.

New Heart English Bible
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beersheba.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.

World English Bible
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the name of his firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

Young's Literal Translation
And the name of his first-born son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

Smith's Literal Translation
And the name of his son the firstborn will be Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: judges at the Well of the Oath.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.

New American Bible
His firstborn was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba.

New Revised Standard Version
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now the name of his first-born son was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abia; they were Judges in Beersheba
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And these are the names of his sons; Joel the first-born, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel Demands a King
1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.…

Cross References
1 Kings 12:1-20
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. / When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since. / So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said, ...

1 Samuel 12:12
But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20
When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” / you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers. / But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ ...

Hosea 13:10-11
Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? / So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.

Judges 8:22-23
Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” / But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.”

1 Samuel 10:19
But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

1 Samuel 12:17-19
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.” / So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. / They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

1 Samuel 7:15-17
So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. / Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. / Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

1 Samuel 9:1-2
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. / And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?

1 Samuel 11:14-15
Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” / So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

1 Samuel 13:13-14
“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. / But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

Acts 13:21-22
Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. / After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.


Treasury of Scripture

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

Joel

1 Chronicles 6:28,38
And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah…

Vashni

Jump to Previous
Abiah Abijah Abi'jah Beersheba Beer-Sheba Joel Jo'el Judged Judges Judging Second Served
Jump to Next
Abiah Abijah Abi'jah Beersheba Beer-Sheba Joel Jo'el Judged Judges Judging Second Served
1 Samuel 8
1. By occasion of the ill government of Samuel's sons, the Israelites ask a king
6. Samuel praying in grief is comforted by God
10. He tells the manner of a king
19. God wills Samuel to yield unto the importunity of the people














The name of his firstborn son was Joel
The name "Joel" in Hebrew is יוֹאֵל (Yo'el), which means "Yahweh is God." This name reflects a deep theological truth and a declaration of faith in the sovereignty and supremacy of Yahweh, the God of Israel. In the context of Samuel's family, naming his son Joel could signify a hope or expectation that his son would uphold the worship and acknowledgment of Yahweh as the one true God. Historically, names in ancient Israel were often prophetic or indicative of the parents' faith and aspirations for their children.

and the name of his second son was Abijah
"Abijah" in Hebrew is אֲבִיָּה (Aviyah), meaning "My Father is Yahweh." This name, like Joel, is a testament to the faith of Samuel and his family. It underscores the importance of recognizing God as the ultimate authority and father figure. Theologically, it suggests a lineage that is meant to honor and serve God, reflecting the covenant relationship between God and His people. The use of such names indicates a desire for the children to live in accordance with God's will and to be leaders who guide others in faith.

they were judges in Beersheba
Beersheba, located in the southern part of Israel, was a significant city in biblical times, often considered the southernmost boundary of the land of Israel, as seen in the phrase "from Dan to Beersheba." The role of judges in Israel was to provide leadership, settle disputes, and guide the people according to God's laws. However, the context of 1 Samuel 8 reveals that Samuel's sons did not follow in his righteous footsteps, as they were corrupt and did not judge justly. This failure in leadership contributed to the Israelites' demand for a king, marking a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The mention of Beersheba highlights the geographical and spiritual reach of their influence, as well as the widespread impact of their actions on the nation.

Verse 2. - The name of his firstborn was Joel. The names of Samuel's sons are pledges of his faith - Joel meaning Jehovah is God, and Abiah Jab is Father. The name given in 1 Chronicles 6:28, Vashni, is a mistake. It means, "and the second," the name of Joel the firstborn having somehow been omitted. The names of Saul's sons, and even of Jonathan's, unlike those in Samuel's family, bear witness to their religion having been of a curiously mixed character. In Beer-sheba. Not, therefore, in any of the places to which Samuel went in person, and which were all near Ramah, his home. Beer-sheba was in the extreme south of the tribe of Judah (see on Genesis 21:31), on the Philistine border, and his being able to place his sons there in authority proves, not merely that his rule was acknowledged throughout the whole country, but also that the Philistines did not interfere much with the internal arrangements of the Israelites. Josephus ('Antiq.,' 6:3, 2) represents only one son as placed at Beer-sheba, and says that the other was judge at Dan, but it may be doubted whether the northern tribes were sufficiently under control to submit to be governed by a southern judge.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The name
שֶׁם־ (šem-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

of his firstborn
הַבְּכוֹר֙ (hab·bə·ḵō·wr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

son
בְּנ֤וֹ (bə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

was
וַיְהִ֞י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

Joel,
יוֹאֵ֔ל (yō·w·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3100: Joel -- probably 'the LORD is God', the name of a number of Israelites

and the name
וְשֵׁ֥ם (wə·šêm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

of his second
מִשְׁנֵ֖הוּ (miš·nê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4932: A repetition, a duplicate, a double, a second

was Abijah.
אֲבִיָּ֑ה (’ă·ḇî·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 29: Abijah -- 'Yah is my father', an Israelite name

They were judges
שֹׁפְטִ֖ים (šō·p̄ə·ṭîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

in Beersheba.
שָֽׁבַע׃ (šā·ḇa‘)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 884: Beersheba -- 'well of seven', a place in the Negev


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OT History: 1 Samuel 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 8:1
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