1 Samuel 8

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah;5 and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Jehovah.7 And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

10 And Samuel told all the words of Jehovah unto the people that asked of him a king.11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots;12 and he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will set some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.16 And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.17 He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants.18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.

19 But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us,20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Jehovah.22 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

1 Samuel 8

Israel Seeks a King

1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.

3 But his sons did not followt his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.t
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.

5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to leadt us, just like all the other nations have.”
6 But this request displeased Samuel, fort they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you.t For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.8 Just as they have donet from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you.

9 So now do as they say.t But seriously warnt them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”t
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.11 He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot.12 He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties,s as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment.13 He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers.14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants.15 He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administratorst and his servants.16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use.17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.

18 In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.”s
19 But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning.t Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!

20 We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead ust and fight our battles.”
21 So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.t

22 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they sayt and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”