And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Listen to what the people are saying to you and do what they ask. They haven't rejected you, they have rejected me as their king.'
God is telling Samuel that when the people demanded a human king, they weren't rejecting Samuel's leadership but God's direct rule over them.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of the prophet Samuel, the Israelites were governed by judges appointed by God, but they grew dissatisfied with this system and demanded a human king to lead them like the surrounding nations. When Samuel felt personally rejected by their request, God reassured him that the people's true rejection was of God's own authority as their divine ruler. This event set the stage for the establishment of the Israelite monarchy, beginning with King Saul.
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