1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.

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

2 They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

3 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.

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

4 Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.

Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

5 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!”

And they said to him: Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have.

6 Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they should say: Give us a king, to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 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.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, that I should not reign over them.

8 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.

According to all their works, they have done from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day: as they have forsaken me, and served strange gods, so do they also unto thee.

9 Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”

Now therefore hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.

10 So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.

Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had desired a king of him,

11 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].

And said: This will be the right of the king, that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make them his horsemen, and his running footmen to run before his chariots,

12 [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.

And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make him arms and chariots.

13 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].

Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be his cooks, and bakers.

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

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best oliveyards, and give them to his servants.

15 He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].

Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs and servants.

16 He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.

Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work.

17 He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!

Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants.

18 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.”

And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves. and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto yourselves a king.

19 But the people refused to pay attention to what Samuel said. They said, “We do not [care what you say]! We want a king!

But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be a king over us.

20 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.”

And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and tight our battles for us.

21 When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,

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

22 Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to his city.