Berean Standard Bible

1 Samuel 8

(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

1וַיְהִ֕יvay.HiH1961Whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050grew oldזָקֵ֖ןza.KenH2204,he appointedוַיָּ֧שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760אֶת־'et-H853his sonsבָּנָ֛יוba.NavH1121as judgesשֹׁפְטִ֖יםsho.fe.TimH8199over Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

2The nameשֶׁם־shem-H8034of his firstbornהַבְּכוֹר֙ha.be.khOrH1060sonבְּנ֤וֹbe.NoH1121wasוַיְהִ֞יvay.HiH1961Joelיוֹאֵ֔לyo.'ElH3100,and the nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of his secondמִשְׁנֵ֖הוּmish.Ne.huH4932was Abijahאֲבִיָּ֑ה'a.vi.YahH29.They were judgesשֹׁפְטִ֖יםsho.fe.TimH8199in BeershebaH884.

3But his sonsבָנָיו֙va.NavH1121did notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808walkהָלְכ֤וּha.le.KhuH1980in his waysבִּדְרָכָ֔יוbe.dar.khovH1870;they turned asideוַיִּטּ֖וּvai.yi.TuH5186towardאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310dishonest gainהַבָּ֑צַעha.Ba.tza'H1215,acceptingוַיִּ֨קְחוּ־vai.Yik.chu-H3947bribesשֹׁ֔חַדSho.chadH7810and pervertingוַיַּטּ֖וּvai.ya.TuH5186justiceמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ פmish.PatH4941.

4So allכֹּ֖לkolH3605the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478gathered togetherוַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֔וּvai.yit.ka.be.TzuH6908and cameוַיָּבֹ֥אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935toאֶל־'el-H413Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050at Ramahהָרָמָֽתָה׃ha.ra.Ma.tahH7414.

5“Lookהִנֵּה֙hi.NehH2009,”they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559אֵלָ֗יו'e.LavH413, “youאַתָּ֣ה'a.TahH859are oldזָקַ֔נְתָּza.Kan.taH2204,and your sonsוּבָנֶ֕יךָu.va.Nei.khaH1121do notלֹ֥אlo'H3808walkהָלְכ֖וּha.le.KhuH1980in your waysבִּדְרָכֶ֑יךָbid.ra.Khei.khaH1870.Nowעַתָּ֗ה'a.TahH6258appointשִֽׂימָה־si.mah-H7760a kingמֶ֛לֶךְMe.lekhH4428to judge usלְשָׁפְטֵ֖נוּle.sha.fe.Te.nuH8199like allכְּכָל־ke.khol-H3605the other nationsהַגּוֹיִֽם׃ha.go.YimH1471.”

6But whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.SherH834they saidאָמְר֔וּ'a.me.RuH559, “Giveתְּנָה־te.nah-H5414usa kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428to judge usלְשָׁפְטֵ֑נוּle.sha.fe.Te.nuH8199,”their demandהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697was displeasingוַיֵּ֤רַעvai.Ye.ra'H7489in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050;so heשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥לvai.yit.pa.LelH6419toאֶל־'el-H413the LORDיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.

7And the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050, “Listenשְׁמַע֙she.Ma'H8085to the voiceבְּק֣וֹלbe.KolH6963of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971in allלְכֹ֥לle.KholH3605thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834they sayיֹאמְר֖וּyo.me.RuH559to youאֵלֶ֑יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413.Forכִּ֣יkiH3588it is notלֹ֤אlo'H3808youאֹֽתְךָ֙'o.te.KhaH853they have rejectedמָאָ֔סוּma.'A.suH3988,butכִּֽי־ki-H3588they have rejectedמָאֲס֖וּma.'a.SuH3988Meאֹתִ֥י'o.TiH853as their kingמִמְּלֹ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃mi.me.Lokh 'a.lei.HemH4427 H5921.

8Just asכְּכָֽל־ הַמַּעֲשִׂ֣יםke.khal- ha.ma.'a.SimH3605 H4639they have doneעָשׂ֗וּ'a.SuH6213אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834from the dayמִיּוֹם֩mi.yOmH3117I brought them upהַעֲלֹתִ֨יha.'a.lo.TiH5927אֹתָ֤ם'o.TamH853out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714untilוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117,forsaking Meוַיַּ֣עַזְבֻ֔נִיvai.Ya.'az.Vu.niH5800and servingוַיַּעַבְד֖וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647otherאֲחֵרִ֑ים'a.che.RimH312godsאֱלֹהִ֣ים'E.lo.HimH430גַּם־gam-H1571,soכֵּ֛ןkenH3651theyהֵ֥מָּהHe.mahH1992are doingעֹשִׂ֖ים'o.SimH6213to you.

9Nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258listen toשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085their voiceבְּקוֹלָ֑םbe.ko.LamH6963;butאַ֗ךְ כִּֽי־'Akh ki-H389 H3588you must solemnly warnH5749themand showוְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ve.hi.gad.TaH5046themthe mannerמִשְׁפַּ֣טmish.PatH4941of the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834will reignיִמְלֹ֖ךְyim.LokhH4427over themעֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ ס'a.lei.HemH5921.”

Samuel’s Warning

10So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050אֵ֖ת'etH853spokeוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559allכָּל־kol-H3605the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068toאֶל־'el-H413the peopleהָעָ֕םha.'AmH5971who were asking him forהַשֹּׁאֲלִ֥ים מֵאִתּ֖וֹha.sho.'a.Lim me.'i.ToH7592 H854a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃ סMe.lekhH4428.

11He saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Thisזֶ֗הZehH2088will beיִֽהְיֶה֙yih.YehH1961the mannerמִשְׁפַּ֣טmish.PatH4941of the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834will reignיִמְלֹ֖ךְyim.LokhH4427over youעֲלֵיכֶ֑ם'a.lei.KhemH5921אֶת־'et-H853:He will takeיִקָּ֗חyi.KachH3947your sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֣םbe.nei.KhemH1121and appointוְשָׂ֥םve.SamH7760them to servehis own chariotsבְּמֶרְכַּבְתּ֣וֹbe.mer.kav.ToH4818and horsesוּבְפָרָשָׁ֔יוu.ve.fa.ra.ShavH6571,and to runוְרָצ֖וּve.ra.TzuH7323in front ofלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440his chariotsמֶרְכַּבְתּֽוֹ׃mer.kav.ToH4818.

12He will appointוְלָשׂ֣וּםve.la.SumH7760some for himselfas commandersשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.FimH505and ofוְשָׂרֵ֣יve.sa.ReiH8269fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֑יםcha.mi.ShimH2572,and others to plowוְלַחֲרֹ֤שׁve.la.cha.RoshH2790his groundחֲרִישׁוֹ֙cha.ri.ShoH2758,to reapוְלִקְצֹ֣רve.lik.TzorH7114his harvestקְצִיר֔וֹke.tzi.RoH7105,and to makeוְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתve.la.'a.SotH6213his weaponsכְּלֵֽי־ke.lei-H3627of warמִלְחַמְתּ֖וֹmil.cham.ToH4421and equipmentוּכְלֵ֥יu.khe.LeiH3627for his chariotsרִכְבּֽוֹ׃rikh.BoH7393.

13Andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853he will takeיִקָּ֑חyi.KachH3947your daughtersבְּנוֹתֵיכֶ֖םbe.no.tei.KhemH1323to beperfumersלְרַקָּח֥וֹתle.ra.ka.ChotH7548,cooksוּלְטַבָּח֖וֹתu.le.ta.ba.ChotH2879,and bakersוּלְאֹפֽוֹת׃u.le.'o.FotH644.

14וְאֶת־ve.'e.tS-H853He will takeיִקָּ֑חyi.KachH3947the bestהַטּוֹבִ֖יםha.to.VimH2896of your fieldsשְׂ֠דֽוֹתֵיכֶםSe.Do.tei.khemH7704andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853vineyardsכַּרְמֵיכֶ֧םkar.mei.KhemH3754and olive grovesוְזֵיתֵיכֶ֛םve.zei.tei.KhemH2132and give themוְנָתַ֖ןve.na.TanH5414to his servantsלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃la.'a.va.DavH5650.

15He will take a tenthיַעְשֹׂ֑רya'.SorH6237of your grainוְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥םve.zar.'ei.KhemH2233and grape harvestוְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖םve.khar.mei.KhemH3754and give itוְנָתַ֥ןve.na.TanH5414to his officialsלְסָרִיסָ֖יוle.sa.ri.SavH5631and servantsוְלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃ve.la.'a.va.DavH5650.

16Andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853he will takeיִקָּ֑חyi.KachH3947your menservantsעַבְדֵיכֶם֩'av.dei.KhemH5650andוְֽאֶת־ve.'EtH853maidservantsשִׁפְח֨וֹתֵיכֶ֜םshif.Cho.tei.KhemH8198andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853your bestהַטּוֹבִ֛יםha.to.VimH2896וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853cattleבַּחוּרֵיכֶ֧םba.chu.rei.KhemH970and donkeysחֲמוֹרֵיכֶ֖םcha.mo.rei.KhemH2543and putוְעָשָׂ֖הve.'a.SahH6213themto his own useלִמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃lim.lakh.ToH4399.

17He will take a tenthיַעְשֹׂ֑רya'.SorH6237of your flocksצֹאנְכֶ֖םtzon.KhemH6629,and you yourselvesוְאַתֶּ֖םve.'a.TemH859will becomeתִּֽהְיוּ־tih.yu-H1961hisslavesלַעֲבָדִֽים׃la.'a.va.DimH5650.

18When thatהַה֔וּאha.Hu'H1931day comesבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,you will begוּזְעַקְתֶּם֙u.ze.'ak.TemH2199for relief fromמִלִּפְנֵ֣יmi.lif.NeiH6440the kingמַלְכְּכֶ֔םmal.ke.KhemH4428אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you have chosenבְּחַרְתֶּ֖םbe.char.TemH977,but the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068אֶתְכֶ֖ם'et.KhemH853will notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808answer youיַעֲנֶ֧הya.'a.NehH6030on thatהַהֽוּא׃ha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117.”

God Grants the Request

19Nevertheless, the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971refusedוַיְמָאֲנ֣וּvay.ma.'a.NuH3985to listenלִשְׁמֹ֖עַ בְּק֣וֹלlish.Mo.a' be.KolH8085 H6963to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050. “Noלֹּ֔א כִּ֥י אִם־Lo' ki 'im-H3808 H3588 H518!”they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559. “We must haveיִֽהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961a kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428over usעָלֵֽינוּ׃'a.Lei.nuH5921.

20Then we willאֲנַ֖חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuH587beוְהָיִ֥ינוּ גַם־ve.ha.Yi.nu gam-H1961 H1571like allכְּכָל־ke.khol-H3605the other nationsהַגּוֹיִ֑םha.go.YimH1471,with a kingמַלְכֵּ֙נוּ֙mal.Ke.nuH4428to judge usוּשְׁפָטָ֤נוּu.she.fa.Ta.nuH8199,to go outוְיָצָ֣אve.ya.Tza'H3318before usלְפָנֵ֔ינוּle.fa.Nei.nuH6440,and to fightוְנִלְחַ֖םve.nil.ChamH3898אֶת־'et-H853our battlesמִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ׃mil.cha.mo.Te.nuH4421.”

21Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050אֵ֖ת'etH853listenedוַיִּשְׁמַ֣עvai.yish.Ma'H8085to allכָּל־kol-H3605the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971and repeated themוַֽיְדַבְּרֵ֖םvay.da.be.RemH1696in the hearingבְּאָזְנֵ֥יbe.'a.ze.NeiH241of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.

22“Listenשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085to their voiceבְּקוֹלָ֔םbe.ko.LamH6963,”the LORDיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050. “Appointוְהִמְלַכְתָּ֥ve.him.lakh.TaH4427a kingמֶ֑לֶךְMe.lekhH4428for them.”Then Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־she.mu.'El 'el-H8050 H413toldוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the menאַנְשֵׁ֣י'an.SheiH582of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478, “Everyoneאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376must go backלְכ֖וּle.KhuH1980to his cityלְעִירֽוֹ׃ פle.'i.RoH5892.”

(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

Samuel’s Warning

God Grants the Request

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 8