1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

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

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

3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

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

5 “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

And they said to him: “Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.

8 Just 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.

In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do to you.

9 Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will reign over them.”

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.

11 He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

And he said: “This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots.

12 He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.

14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.

Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and servants.

16 And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants.

18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.”

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For there shall be a king over us,

20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”

21 Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them to the ears of the Lord.

22 “Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let each one go to his own city.”