1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
3 His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
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 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the 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 it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
7 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
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 They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and so they are also doing to you.
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 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over 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 words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king.
So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
11 He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots.
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 He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
[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 to be perfumers, cooks, 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 He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants.
He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.
He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
16 He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.
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 flocks, and you will be his slaves.
He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
18 Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on 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 refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must be a king over us
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 so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
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 When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.
When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
22 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man must go to his own city.”
Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
