Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

Then all the elders of Israel assembled, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

And all the elders of Israel gather themselves together, and come in unto Samuel to Ramath,

Then all the responsible men of Israel got together and went to Samuel at Ramah,

Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto (c) Ramah,
(c) For there his house was, (1-Samuel 7:17).

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,.... At some place of rendezvous appointed; these were the heads of the tribes, and fathers of the houses and families of Israel, the principal persons of age and authority:
and came to Samuel unto Ramah; the place of his nativity and abode, and where he now dwelt, and judged Israel; they went in a very respectable body with an address to him.

Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them that they shall have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but as sometimes he opposes us from loving-kindness, so at other times he gratifies us in wrath; he did so here. God knows how to bring glory to himself, and serves his own wise purposes, even by men's foolish counsels.