1 Samuel 8

Israel Demands a King

1And it came about when Samuel was old that 1he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in 2Beersheba. 3His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and 3took bribes and perverted justice.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at 4Ramah; 5and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now 5appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” 6But the thing was 67displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And 8Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for 9they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day--in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. 9Now then, listen to their voice; 10however, you shall solemnly 11warn them and tell them of 12the 13procedure of the king who will reign over them.”

Warning concerning a King

10So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to 14the people who had asked of him a king. 11He said, “15This will be the 16procedure of the king who will reign over you: 17he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and 18they will run before his chariots. 1219He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to 20do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 1421He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and 22use them for his work. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18Then 23you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but 24the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19Nevertheless, the people 25refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 2026that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, 27he repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. 22The Lord said to Samuel, “28Listen to their voice and 29appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”