1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.

And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2 His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.

3 However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.

But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.

4 So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet Samuel at Ramah.

Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.

5 “Look here,” they told him, “you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. Choose a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”

And they said to him: “Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.”

6 Samuel thought this was a bad idea when they said, “Give us a king to rule over us,” so he prayed to the Lord about it.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 “Do what the people tell you,” the Lord said to Samuel, “because it's not you they're rejecting, but me as their king.

Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.

8 They're doing just as they have always done since I led them out of Egypt right up to now. They have abandoned me and worshiped other gods, and they're doing just the same to you.

In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do to you.

9 So do what they want, but give them a solemn warning—explain to them what a king will do when he rules over them.”

Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will reign over them.”

10 Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them a king.

And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.

11 “This is what a king will do when he rules over you,” he told them. “He will take your sons and make them serve as charioteers and horsemen, and to run as a guard in front of his chariot.

And he said: “This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots.

12 Some of them he will make commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some will have to plow his fields and reap his harvest. Some will be assigned to making weapons of war and chariot equipment.

And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots.

13 He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.

Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.

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

Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.

Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and servants.

16 He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.

Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his slaves.

Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants.

18 On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”

And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.”

19 But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!

But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For there shall be a king over us,

20 That way we can be like all the other nations. Our king will rule us, and will lead us when we go out to fight our battles.”

and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”

21 Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to the Lord.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them to the ears of the Lord.

22 The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let each one go to his own city.”