1 Samuel 8

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that 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 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.

They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].

3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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 themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah:

Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.

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.

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 the thing displeased Samuel; when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.

7 And the LORD 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.

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 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.

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 therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”

10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.

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:

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 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.

[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 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be 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 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, 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 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

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 ye shall be his servants.

He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not answer you in 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 hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have 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 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.

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 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,

22 And the LORD 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.

Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.