1 Samuel 8

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

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons 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.

And the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beer-sheba'.

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

But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

Then did all the elders of Israel assemble themselves together, and came to Samuel unto 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 said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways: now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.

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.

But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto 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.

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they may say unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, but me have they rejected, that I should not 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 accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, when they forsook me, and served other gods: so do they also unto thee.

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

And now hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that 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 Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him a king.

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 manner of the king that will reign over you: Your sons will he take, and appoint them for himself with his chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will have to run before his chariot;

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 to appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

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

And your daughters will he take for ointment makers, and for cooks, and for bakers.

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

And your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, and 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.

And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] to his officers, and to his servants.

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

And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ [them] for his work.

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

Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become 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 ye will cry out on that day because of your king whom ye will have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.

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

Nevertheless the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be 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.”

That we also may ourselves be like all the nations: and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

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 before 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.”

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.