Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 8:12

12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and will [illegible: 1 word] them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest , and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his charets .

Heb. To, or for himself; Emphatically, i. e. for his own fancy, or glory, or conveniency, or evil design, and not only when the necessities of the Kingdom or Commonwealth require it, as the Judges did. And though this might seem to be no incumbrance, as it is here represented, but an honour and advantage to the Persons so advanced, yet even in them that Honour was accompanied with great Dangers, and Pernicious Snares of many kinds, which those faint Shadows of Glory could not recompence; and as to the publick, their Pomp and Power proved very Burdensom and Oppressive to the People, whose Lands and Fruits were taken from them, and bestowed upon these, for the support of their State, as it follows below, v. 14, 15.

At his own pleasure, and without their consent, when possibly their own Fields required all their time and pains.

He will press them for all sorts of his work, and that upon his own terms.