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 judges to Israel;
2 They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
and the name of his firstborn son was, Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah, —they were judges in Beer-sheba.
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.
Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, —and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4 Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
So then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, —and came unto Samuel, to Ramah;
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 said unto him—Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not in thy ways: Now, appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.
6 Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give unto us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed unto Yahweh.
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 Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they shall say unto thee, —for, not thee, have they rejected, but, me, have they rejected, from being king 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 the doings which they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even until this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so, are they doing even 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, —save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them.
10 So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king.
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 he said, This, will be the manner of the king who will reign over you, —Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as his horsemen, and they shall 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 for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, —and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and the instruments of his 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].
And, your daughters, will he take, —as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers;
14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
And, your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, will he take, and give 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].
And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants;
16 He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
And, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, —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, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become 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.”
Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, —and Yahweh will not answer you, in that day.
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 refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, —and they said—Nay! but, a king, shall be 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.”
so shall, even we, become like all the nations, —and our king shall judge us, and go forth before us, and fight our battles.
21 When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, —and spake them in the ears of Yahweh.
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 Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: Go ye, every man to his own city.
