8
1 When
Samuel was old,
he made his
sons judges over
Israel.
2 Now
the name of
his firstborn was
Joel, and the
name of his
second, Abijah. They
were judges
in Beersheba.
3 His
sons didn’t walk
in his ways,
but turned away
after dishonest
gain, took bribes,
and perverted
justice.
4 Then
all the elders
of Israel gathered
themselves together
and came to
Samuel to Ramah.
5 They said
to him, “Behold,
you are old,
and your sons don’t
walk in your
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.”
Samuel prayed to
the LORD.
7 The
LORD said to
Samuel, “Listen to
the voice of
the people in
all that they
tell you; for
they have not
rejected you, but
they have rejected
me as the
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 to this
day, in that
they have forsaken
me and served
other gods, so
they also do
to you.
9 Now
therefore, listen
to their voice.
However, you shall
protest solemnly
to them, and
shall show them
the way of
the king who
will reign over
them.”
10 Samuel
told all the
LORD’s words to
the people who
asked him for
a king.
11 He said, “This
will be the
way of the
king who shall
reign over you:
he will take
your sons and
appoint them as
his servants, for
his chariots and
to be his
horsemen; and they
will run before
his chariots.
12 He
will appoint them
to him for
captains of thousands
and captains of
fifties; and he
will assign some
to plow his
ground and to
reap his harvest;
and to make
his instruments of
war and the
instruments of his
chariots.
13 He
will take your
daughters to be
perfumers, to be
cooks, and to be
bakers.
14 He
will take your
fields, your
vineyards, and
your olive groves,
even your best,
and give them
to his servants.
15 He
will take one
tenth of your
seed and of
your vineyards,
and give it
to his officers
and to his
servants.
16 He
will take your
male servants,
your female
servants, your
best young men,
and your donkeys,
and assign them to
his own work.
17 He will
take one tenth
of your flocks;
and you will
be his servants.
18 You
will cry out
in that day
because of your
king whom you
will have chosen
for yourselves;
and the LORD
will not answer
you in that
day.”
19 But
the people refused
to listen to
the voice of
Samuel; and they
said, “No, 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 Samuel
heard all the
words of the
people, and he
rehearsed them in
the ears of the
LORD.
22 The
LORD said to
Samuel, “Listen to
their voice, and
make them a
king.”
Samuel said to
the men of
Israel, “Everyone go
to your own city.”