1 Samuel 8

1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.

3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5They said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons have not walked in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.”

6But the matter was displeasing in Samuel’s eyes when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

7And Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”

8According to all the deeds that they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.

9So now, listen to their voice; only, you must solemnly warn them and tell them the justice of the king who will reign over them.

10So Samuel spoke all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking him for a king.

11He said, “This will be the custom of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.”

12He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.

13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

14He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and give them to his servants.

15He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his officials and his servants.

16He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work.

17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you will become his servants.

18And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but Yahweh will not answer you in that day.

19But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us.”

20so that we too may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.

21Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of Yahweh.

22And Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and make a king for them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each man to his city.”