1 Samuel 8
8
Israel Demands a King
1And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. 3His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5and said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us [and rule over us] like all the other nations.” 6But their demand #8:6 Lit was evil in the eyes of.displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge and rule over us.” So Samuel 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 they 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 abandoned (rejected) Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9So now listen to their voice; only solemnly warn them and tell them the ways of the king who will reign over them.”
Warning concerning a King
10So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself to his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. 12He will appoint them for himself to be commanders over thousands and over fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and equipment for his chariots. 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16He will take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves shall be his servants. 18Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day [because you have rejected Him as King].”
19Nevertheless, 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 [around us], that our king may judge [and govern] us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21Samuel had heard all the words of the people and repeated them #8:21 Lit in the Lord’s hearing.to the Lord. 22And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their #8:22 Lit voice.request and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each man to his own city.”
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1 Samuel 8: AMP
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1 Samuel 8
8
Israel Asks for a King
1When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges for Israel. 2His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. Joel and Abijah were judges in Beersheba. 3But Samuel’s sons did not live as he did. They tried to get money dishonestly. They took money secretly to be dishonest in their judging.
4So all the elders came together and met Samuel at Ramah. 5They said to him, “You’re old, and your sons don’t live as you do. Give us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”
6When the elders said that, Samuel was not pleased. He prayed to the Lord. 7The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to whatever the people say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king. 8They are doing as they have always done. When I took them out of Egypt, they left me. They served other gods. They are doing the same to you. 9Now listen to the people. But give them a warning. Tell them what the king who rules over them will do.”
10Samuel answered those who had asked him for a king. He told them all the words of the Lord. 11Samuel said, “If you have a king ruling over you, this is what he will do: He will take your sons. He will make them serve with his chariots and his horses. They will run in front of the king’s chariot. 12The king will make some of your sons commanders over 1,000 men or over 50 men. He will make some of your other sons plow his ground and reap his harvest. He will take others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13This king will take your daughters. Some of your daughters will make perfume. Others will cook and bake for him. 14He will take your best fields, vineyards and olive groves. He will give them to his servants. 15He will take one-tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers and servants. 16He will take your men servants and girl servants. He will take your best cattle and your donkeys. He will use them all for his own work. 17He will take one-tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves. 18When that time comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose. The Lord will not answer you then.”
19But the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, “No! We want a king to rule over us. 20Then we will be the same as all the other nations. Our king will judge us. He will go with us and fight our battles.”
21Samuel heard all that the people said. Then he repeated all their words to the Lord. 22The Lord answered, “You must listen to them. Give them a king.”
Then Samuel told the people of Israel, “Everyone go back to his town.”
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