1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel was nowe become olde, he made his sonnes Iudges ouer Israel.
When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
2 (And the name of his eldest sonne was Ioel, and the name of the second Abiah) euen Iudges in Beer-sheba.
They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
3 And his sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and tooke rewards, and peruerted the iudgement.
But they were not like their father. They wanted only to get a lot of money. They accepted bribes, and they did not make honest decisions about people’s disputes/cases.
4 Wherefore all the Elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel vnto Ramah,
Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
5 And said vnto him, Beholde, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: make vs nowe a King to iudge vs like all nations.
They said to him, “Listen! You are now old, and your sons are not like you. Appoint a king to rule over us, like the kings that other countries have!”
6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord.
Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
7 And the Lord said vnto Samuel, Heare the voyce of the people in all that they shall say vnto thee: for they haue not cast thee away, but they haue cast me away, that I should not reigne ouer the.
Yahweh replied, “Do what they have requested you to do. But ([do not think/the truth is not]) that you are the one whom they are really rejecting. I have been their king, and I am the one they are really rejecting.
8 As they haue euer done since I brought them out of Egypt euen vnto this day, (and haue forsaken me, and serued other gods) euen so doe they vnto thee.
Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have rejected me, and they have worshiped other gods. And now they are also rejecting you in the same way.
9 Nowe therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, and shewe them the maner of ye King that shall reigne ouer them.
Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”
10 So Samuel told all the wordes of the Lord vnto the people that asked a King of him.
So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
11 And he saide, This shall be the maner of the King that shall reigne ouer you: he will take your sonnes, and appoint them to his charets, and to be his horsemen, and some shall runne before his charet.
He said, “If a king rules over you, this is what he will do to you: He will force many of your sons to join the army. He will make [some of] them run in front of his chariots [to clear people out of his way].
12 Also he will make them his captaines ouer thousands, and captaines ouer fifties, and to eare his ground, and to reape his haruest, and to make instruments of warre, and the thinges that serue for his charets.
[Some of] them will be commanders of his soldiers, but others will work for him like slaves. He will force some of them to plow his fields and [then later] harvest his crops. He will force others to make his weapons and equipment for his chariots.
13 He will also take your daughters and make them apoticaries, and cookes, and bakers.
The king will take [some of] your daughters [from you and force them] to make perfumes for him and cook food for him and bake [bread for him].
14 And he will take your fieldes, and your vineyardes, and your best Oliue trees, and giue them to his seruants.
He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seede, and of your vineyards, and giue it to his Eunuches, and to his seruants.
He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
16 And he will take your men seruants, and your maide seruants, and the chiefe of your yong men, and your asses, and put them to his worke.
He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.
He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
18 And ye shall crie out at that day, because of your King, whom ye haue chosen you, and the Lord will not heare you at that day.
When that time comes, you will complain loudly to the king, the king that you yourselves have chosen, but Yahweh will not (pay attention to/help) you.”
19 But the people would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a King ouer vs.
But the people refused to pay attention to what Samuel said. They said, “We do not [care what you say]! We want a king!
20 And we also will be like all other nations, and our King shall iudge vs, and goe out before vs, and fight our battels.
We want to be like the other nations. We want a king to rule us and to lead our soldiers when they go to fight.”
21 Therefore when Samuel heard all ye wordes of ye people, he rehearsed the in ye eares of ye Lord.
When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
22 And the Lord saide to Samuel, Hearken vnto their voyce, and make them a King. And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel, Goe euery man vnto his citie.
Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
