1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
And it cometh to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he maketh his sons judges over Israel.
2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
And the name of his first-born son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:
3 His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
And all the elders of Israel gather themselves together, and come in unto Samuel to Ramath,
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.”
and say unto him, 'Lo, thou hast become aged, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways; now, appoint to us a king, to judge us, like all the nations.'
6 But it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they have said, 'Give to us a king to judge us;' and Samuel prayeth unto Jehovah.
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.
And Jehovah saith unto Samuel, 'Hearken to the voice of the people, to all that they say unto thee, for thee they have not rejected, but Me they have rejected, from reigning over them.
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.
According to all the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even unto this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods — so they are doing also to thee.
9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over them.”
And now, hearken to their voice; only, surely thou dost certainly protest to them, and hast declared to them the custom of the king who doth reign over them.'
10 So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king.
And Samuel speaketh all the words of Jehovah unto the people who are asking from him a king,
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.
and saith, 'This is the custom of the king who doth reign over you: Your sons he doth take, and hath appointed for himself among his chariots, and among his horsemen, and they have run before his chariots;
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.
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.
13 He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
'And your daughters he doth take for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;
14 He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants.
and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards — the best — he doth take, and hath given to his servants.
15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.
And your seed and your vineyards he doth tithe, and hath given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
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.
And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your young men — the best, and your asses, he doth take, and hath prepared for his own work;
17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
your flock he doth tithe, and ye are to him for servants.
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.”
And ye have cried out in that day because of the king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, and Jehovah doth not answer you in that day.'
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must be a king over us
And the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, 'Nay, but a king is over us,
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.”
and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king hath judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.'
21 When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.
And Samuel heareth all the words of the people, and speaketh them in the ears of Jehovah;
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.”
and Jehovah saith unto Samuel, 'Hearken to their voice, and thou hast caused to reign over them a king.' And Samuel saith unto the men of Israel, 'Go ye each to his city.'
