New American Standard Bible 1995

1 Samuel 8

Israel Demands a King

1And it cameוַיְהִ֕יvay.HiH1961about whenH3512Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050was oldזָקֵ֖ןza.KenH2204thathe appointedוַיָּ֧שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760his sonsבָּנָ֛יוba.NavH1121judgesשֹׁפְטִ֖יםsho.fe.TimH8199over Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

2Now the nameשֶׁם־shem-H8034of his firstbornהַבְּכוֹר֙ha.be.khOrH1060was Joelיוֹאֵ֔לyo.'ElH3100,and the nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of his secondמִשְׁנֵ֖הוּmish.Ne.huH4932,Abijahאֲבִיָּ֑ה'a.vi.YahH29; theywere judgingשֹׁפְטִ֖יםsho.fe.TimH8199inBeershebaH884.

3His sonsבָנָיו֙va.NavH1121,however, did not walkהָלְכ֤וּha.le.KhuH1980in his waysבִּדְרָכָ֔יוbe.dar.khovH1870,but turnedוַיִּטּ֖וּvai.yi.TuH5186asideוַיַּטּ֖וּvai.ya.TuH5186afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310dishonestH1215gainהַבָּ֑צַעha.Ba.tza'H1215andtookוַיִּ֨קְחוּ־vai.Yik.chu-H3947bribesשֹׁ֔חַדSho.chadH7810and pervertedH5186justiceמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ פmish.PatH4941.

4Then allכֹּ֖לkolH3605the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478gatheredוַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֔וּvai.yit.ka.be.TzuH6908together and cameוַיָּבֹ֥אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050atRamahהָרָמָֽתָה׃ha.ra.Ma.tahH7414;

5and they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to him, “Beholdהִנֵּה֙hi.NehH2009,you have grownH2204oldזָקַ֔נְתָּza.Kan.taH2204,and your sonsוּבָנֶ֕יךָu.va.Nei.khaH1121do not walkהָלְכ֖וּha.le.KhuH1980in your waysבִּדְרָכֶ֑יךָbid.ra.Khei.khaH1870.Nowעַתָּ֗ה'a.TahH6258appointשִֽׂימָה־si.mah-H7760a kingמֶ֛לֶךְMe.lekhH4428for us to judgeלְשָׁפְטֵ֖נוּle.sha.fe.Te.nuH8199us like allכְּכָל־ke.khol-H3605the nationsהַגּוֹיִֽם׃ha.go.YimH1471.”

6But the thingהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697wasdispleasingוַיֵּ֤רַעvai.Ye.ra'H7489in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050whenH3512they saidאָמְר֔וּ'a.me.RuH559, “Giveתְּנָה־te.nah-H5414us a kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428to judgeלְשָׁפְטֵ֑נוּle.sha.fe.Te.nuH8199us.” AndSamuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥לvai.yit.pa.LelH6419to the Lordיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.

7The Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050, “Listenשְׁמַע֙she.Ma'H8085to the voiceבְּק֣וֹלbe.KolH6963of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971in regard to allלְכֹ֥לle.KholH3605that they sayיֹאמְר֖וּyo.me.RuH559to you, forthey have not rejectedמָאָ֔סוּma.'A.suH3988you, but they have rejectedמָאֲס֖וּma.'a.SuH3988Me from beingH4427kingH4427overעֲלֵיהֶֽם׃'a.lei.HemH5921them.

8Like allכְּכָֽל־ke.khal-H3605the deedsהַמַּעֲשִׂ֣יםha.ma.'a.SimH4639whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834they have doneעָשׂ֗וּ'a.SuH6213sinceH4480the dayמִיּוֹם֩mi.yOmH3117that I broughtהַעֲלֹתִ֨יha.'a.lo.TiH5927them up from Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714even to thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117--in that they have forsakenוַיַּ֣עַזְבֻ֔נִיvai.Ya.'az.Vu.niH5800Me and servedוַיַּעַבְד֖וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647otherאֲחֵרִ֑ים'a.che.RimH312godsאֱלֹהִ֣ים'E.lo.HimH430--soכֵּ֛ןkenH3651they are doingעֹשִׂ֖ים'o.SimH6213to you alsoגַּם־gam-H1571.

9Nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258then, listenשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085to their voiceבְּקוֹלָ֑םbe.ko.LamH6963;howeverאַ֗ךְ'AkhH389,you shall solemnlyהָעֵ֤דha.'EdH5749warnתָּעִיד֙ta.'IdH5749them and tellוְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ve.hi.gad.TaH5046them of theprocedureמִשְׁפַּ֣טmish.PatH4941of the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834will reignיִמְלֹ֖ךְyim.LokhH4427overעֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ ס'a.lei.HemH5921them.”

Warning concerning a King

10So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050spokeוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559allכָּל־kol-H3605the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068tothe peopleהָעָ֕םha.'AmH5971who had askedהַשֹּׁאֲלִ֥יםha.sho.'a.LimH7592of him a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃ סMe.lekhH4428.

11He saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Thisזֶ֗הZehH2088will be theprocedureמִשְׁפַּ֣טmish.PatH4941of the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834will reignיִמְלֹ֖ךְyim.LokhH4427overעֲלֵיכֶ֑ם'a.lei.KhemH5921you:he will takeיִקָּ֗חyi.KachH3947your sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֣םbe.nei.KhemH1121and placeוְשָׂ֥םve.SamH7760themfor himself in his chariotsבְּמֶרְכַּבְתּ֣וֹbe.mer.kav.ToH4818and among his horsemenוּבְפָרָשָׁ֔יוu.ve.fa.ra.ShavH6571andthey will runוְרָצ֖וּve.ra.TzuH7323beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440his chariotsמֶרְכַּבְתּֽוֹ׃mer.kav.ToH4818.

12He will appointוְלָשׂ֣וּםve.la.SumH7760for himself commandersH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.FimH505and of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֑יםcha.mi.ShimH2572, and some todoוְלַחֲרֹ֤שׁve.la.cha.RoshH2790his plowingחֲרִישׁוֹ֙cha.ri.ShoH2758and to reapוְלִקְצֹ֣רve.lik.TzorH7114his harvestקְצִיר֔וֹke.tzi.RoH7105and to makeוְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתve.la.'a.SotH6213his weaponsכְּלֵֽי־ke.lei-H3627of warמִלְחַמְתּ֖וֹmil.cham.ToH4421and equipmentוּכְלֵ֥יu.khe.LeiH3627for his chariotsרִכְבּֽוֹ׃rikh.BoH7393.

13He will also takeיִקָּ֑חyi.KachH3947your daughtersבְּנוֹתֵיכֶ֖םbe.no.tei.KhemH1323for perfumersלְרַקָּח֥וֹתle.ra.ka.ChotH7548and cooksוּלְטַבָּח֖וֹתu.le.ta.ba.ChotH2879and bakersוּלְאֹפֽוֹת׃u.le.'o.FotH644.

14He will takeיִקָּ֑חyi.KachH3947the bestהַטּוֹבִ֖יםha.to.VimH2896of your fieldsשְׂ֠דֽוֹתֵיכֶםSe.Do.tei.khemH7704and your vineyardsכַּרְמֵיכֶ֧םkar.mei.KhemH3754and your oliveוְזֵיתֵיכֶ֛םve.zei.tei.KhemH2132grovesH2132and giveוְנָתַ֖ןve.na.TanH5414themto his servantsלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃la.'a.va.DavH5650.

15He will takeיַעְשֹׂ֑רya'.SorH6237a tenthH6237of your seedוְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥םve.zar.'ei.KhemH2233and of your vineyardsוְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖םve.khar.mei.KhemH3754and giveוְנָתַ֥ןve.na.TanH5414to his officersלְסָרִיסָ֖יוle.sa.ri.SavH5631and to his servantsוְלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃ve.la.'a.va.DavH5650.

16He will also takeיִקָּ֑חyi.KachH3947your maleעַבְדֵיכֶם֩'av.dei.KhemH5650servantsH5650and your femaleשִׁפְח֨וֹתֵיכֶ֜םshif.Cho.tei.KhemH8198servantsH8198and your bestהַטּוֹבִ֛יםha.to.VimH2896youngבַּחוּרֵיכֶ֧םba.chu.rei.KhemH970menH970and your donkeysחֲמוֹרֵיכֶ֖םcha.mo.rei.KhemH2543anduseוְעָשָׂ֖הve.'a.SahH6213themfor his workלִמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃lim.lakh.ToH4399.

17He will takeיַעְשֹׂ֑רya'.SorH6237a tenthH6237of your flocksצֹאנְכֶ֖םtzon.KhemH6629,and you yourselvesH864will becomeתִּֽהְיוּ־tih.yu-H1961his servantsלַעֲבָדִֽים׃la.'a.va.DimH5650.

18Thenyou will cryוּזְעַקְתֶּם֙u.ze.'ak.TemH2199out in that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117becauseמִלִּפְנֵ֣יmi.lif.NeiH4480 H6440of your kingמַלְכְּכֶ֔םmal.ke.KhemH4428whomאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you have chosenבְּחַרְתֶּ֖םbe.char.TemH977for yourselves, butthe Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068will not answerיַעֲנֶ֧הya.'a.NehH6030you in that dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117.”

19Nevertheless, the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971refusedוַיְמָאֲנ֣וּvay.ma.'a.NuH3985to listenלִשְׁמֹ֖עַlish.Mo.a'H8085to the voiceבְּק֣וֹלbe.KolH6963of Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050,and they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Noלֹּ֔אLo'H3808,but there shall be a kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428overעָלֵֽינוּ׃'a.Lei.nuH5921us,

20that we alsoגַם־gam-H1571may be like allכְּכָל־ke.khol-H3605the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֑םha.go.YimH1471,that our kingמַלְכֵּ֙נוּ֙mal.Ke.nuH4428may judgeוּשְׁפָטָ֤נוּu.she.fa.Ta.nuH8199us and goוְיָצָ֣אve.ya.Tza'H3318out beforeלְפָנֵ֔ינוּle.fa.Nei.nuH6440us and fightוְנִלְחַ֖םve.nil.ChamH3898our battlesמִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ׃mil.cha.mo.Te.nuH4421.”

21Now after Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050had heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֣עvai.yish.Ma'H8085allכָּל־kol-H3605the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,he repeatedוַֽיְדַבְּרֵ֖םvay.da.be.RemH1696them in the Lord’sיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068hearingבְּאָזְנֵ֥יbe.'a.ze.NeiH241.

22The Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050, “Listenשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085to their voiceבְּקוֹלָ֔םbe.ko.LamH6963andappointוְהִמְלַכְתָּ֥ve.him.lakh.TaH4427them a kingמֶ֑לֶךְMe.lekhH4428.”So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the menאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478, “Goלְכ֖וּle.KhuH1980everyH376manH376to his cityלְעִירֽוֹ׃ פle.'i.RoH5892.”

Israel Demands a King

Warning concerning a King

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 8