1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba.

3 However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5 “Look here,” they told him, “you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. Choose a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6 Samuel thought this was a bad idea when they said, “Give us a king to rule over us,” so he prayed to the Lord about it.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

7 “Do what the people tell you,” the Lord said to Samuel, “because it's not you they're rejecting, but me as their king.

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.

8 They're doing just as they have always done since I led them out of Egypt right up to now. They have abandoned me and worshiped other gods, and they're doing just the same to you.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9 So do what they want, but give them a solemn warning—explain to them what a king will do when he rules over them.”

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

10 Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them a king.

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 “This is what a king will do when he rules over you,” he told them. “He will take your sons and make them serve as charioteers and horsemen, and to run as a guard in front of his chariot.

And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots.

12 Some of them he will make commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some will have to plow his fields and reap his harvest. Some will be assigned to making weapons of war and chariot equipment.

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13 He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.

And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.

14 He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials.

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.

And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work.

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

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

19 But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20 That way we can be like all the other nations. Our king will rule us, and will lead us when we go out to fight our battles.”

That we also may 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 everything the people said and repeated it to the Lord.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

22 The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”

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