1 Samuel 8

1

(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

WhenH834 SamuelH8050 grew oldH2204, he appointedH7760 his sonsH1121 as judgesH81991 over IsraelH3478. 2The nameH8034 of his firstbornH1060 sonH1121 wasH1961 JoelH3100, and the nameH8034 of his secondH4932 was AbijahH29. They were judgesH8199 in BeershebaH884. 3But his sonsH1121 did notH3808 walkH1980 in his waysH1870; they turned asideH5186 towardH310 dishonest gainH1215, acceptingH3947 bribesH7810 and pervertingH5186 justiceH4941.

4So allH3605 the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 gathered togetherH6908 and cameH935 toH413 SamuelH8050 at RamahH7414. 5“LookH2009,” they saidH559, “youH859 are oldH2204, and your sonsH1121 do notH3808 walkH1980 in your waysH1870. NowH6258 appointH7760 a kingH4428 to judge usH8199 like allH3605 the other nationsH1471.”

6But whenH834 they saidH559, “GiveH5414 us a kingH4428 to judge usH8199,” their demandH1697 was displeasingH7489 in the sightH5869 of SamuelH8050; so heH8050 prayedH6419 toH413 the LORDH3068.

7And the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 SamuelH8050, “ListenH8085 to the voiceH6963 of the peopleH5971 in allH3605 thatH834 they sayH559 to youH413. ForH3588 it is notH3808 youH853 they have rejectedH3988, butH3588 they have rejectedH3988 MeH853 as their kingH4427H5921. 8Just asH3605H4639 they have doneH6213 from the dayH3117 I brought them upH5927 out of EgyptH4714 untilH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117, forsaking MeH5800 and servingH5647 otherH312 godsH430, soH3651 theyH1992 are doingH6213 to you. 9NowH6258 listen toH8085 their voiceH6963; butH389H3588 you must solemnly warnH5749 them and showH5046 them the mannerH4941 of the kingH4428 whoH834 will reignH4427 over themH5921.”

Samuel’s Warning

10So SamuelH8050 spokeH559 allH3605 the wordsH1697 of the LORDH3068 toH413 the peopleH5971 who were asking him forH7592H854 a kingH4428. 11He saidH559, “ThisH2088 will beH1961 the mannerH4941 of the kingH4428 whoH834 will reignH4427 over youH5921: He will takeH3947 your sonsH1121 and appointH7760 them to serve his own chariotsH4818 and horsesH6571, and to runH7323 in front ofH6440 his chariotsH4818.

12He will appointH7760 some for himself as commandersH8269 of thousandsH505 and ofH8269 fiftiesH2572, and others to plowH2790 his groundH2758, to reapH7114 his harvestH7105, and to makeH6213 his weaponsH3627 of warH4421 and equipmentH3627 for his chariotsH7393.

13AndH853 he will takeH3947 your daughtersH1323 to be perfumersH7548, cooksH2879, and bakersH644.

14

He will takeH3947 the bestH2896 of your fieldsH7704 andH853 vineyardsH3754 and olive grovesH2132 and give themH5414 to his servantsH5650. 15He will take a tenthH6237 of your grainH2233 and grape harvestH3754 and give itH5414 to his officialsH5631 and servantsH5650. 16AndH853 he will takeH3947 your menservantsH5650 andH853 maidservantsH8198 andH853 your bestH2896 cattleH9702 and donkeysH2543 and putH6213 them to his own useH4399.

17He will take a tenthH6237 of your flocksH6629, and you yourselvesH859 will becomeH1961 his slavesH5650. 18When thatH1931 day comesH3117, you will begH2199 for relief fromH6440 the kingH4428 you have chosenH977, but the LORDH3068 will notH3808 answer youH6030 on thatH1931 dayH3117.”

God Grants the Request

19Nevertheless, the peopleH5971 refusedH3985 to listenH8085H6963 to SamuelH8050. “NoH3808H3588H518!” they saidH559. “We must haveH1961 a kingH4428 over usH5921. 20Then we willH587 beH1961H1571 like allH3605 the other nationsH1471, with a kingH4428 to judge usH8199, to go outH3318 before usH6440, and to fightH3898 our battlesH4421.”

21SamuelH8050 listenedH8085 to allH3605 the wordsH1697 of the peopleH5971 and repeated themH1696 in the hearingH241 of the LORDH3068.

22“ListenH8085 to their voiceH6963,” the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 SamuelH8050. “AppointH4427 a kingH4428 for them.”

Then SamuelH8050H413 toldH559 the menH582 of IsraelH3478, “EveryoneH376 must go backH1980 to his cityH5892.”