1 Samuel 8
1 And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes his sons judges over Israel.
When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.
2 And the name of his firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:
His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.
3 and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.
However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 And all [the] elderly of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Samuel at Ramath,
So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet Samuel at Ramah.
5 and say to him, “Behold, you have become aged, and your sons have not walked in your ways; now, appoint a king to us, to judge us, like all the nations.”
“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.”
6 And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel when they have said, “Give a king to us, to judge us”; and Samuel prays to YHWH.
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.
7 And YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people, to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.
“Do what the people tell you,” the Lord said to Samuel, “because it's not you they're rejecting, but me as their king.
8 According to all the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even to this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods—so they are also doing to you.
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.
9 And now, listen to their voice; only, surely you certainly protest to them, and have declared to them the custom of the king who reigns over them.”
So do what they want, but give them a solemn warning—explain to them what a king will do when he rules over them.”
10 And Samuel speaks all the words of YHWH to the people who are asking [for] a king from him,
Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them a king.
11 and says, “This is the custom of the king who reigns over you: he takes your sons, and has appointed for himself among his chariots, and among his horsemen, and they have run before his chariots;
“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.
12 also to appoint for himself heads of thousands, and heads of fifties; also to plow his plowing, and to reap his reaping; and to make instruments of his war, and instruments of his charioteer.
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.
13 And he takes your daughters for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;
He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.
14 and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards—he takes the best, and has given to his servants.
He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials.
15 And he tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
He will take a tenth of your grain harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.
16 And your menservants and your maidservants, and the best of your young men and your donkeys, he takes, and has prepared for his own work;
He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.
17 he tithes your flock, and you are for servants to him.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his slaves.
18 And you have cried out in that day because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and YHWH does not answer you in that day.”
On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”
19 And the people refuse to listen to the voice of Samuel, and say, “No, but a king is over us,
But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!
20 and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king has judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.”
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.”
21 And Samuel hears all the words of the people, and speaks them in the ears of YHWH;
Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to the Lord.
22 and YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and you have caused a king to reign over them.” And Samuel says to the men of Israel, “Go, each man, to his city.”
The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”
