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 #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 #Lit in the Lord’s hearing.to the Lord. 22And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their #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
8
Israel Seeks a King
1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba. 3 But his sons did not follow#tn Heb “walk in” (also in v. 5). his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.#tn Heb “and they turned aside after unjust gain and took bribes and perverted justice.”
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead#tn Heb “judge” (also in v. 6). us, just like all the other nations have.”
6 But this request displeased Samuel, for#tn Heb “when.” they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you.#tn Heb “Listen to the voice of the people, to all which they say to you.” For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. 8 Just as they have done#tn Heb “according to all the deeds which they have done.” from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. 9 So now do as they say.#tn Heb “and now, listen to their voice.” But seriously warn#tn The infinitive absolute appears before the imperative for emphasis. them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”#tn Heb “and tell them the manner of the king who will rule over them.”
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot. 12 He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties,#tc The numbers of v. 12 are confused in the Greek and Syriac versions. For “fifties” the LXX has “hundreds.” The Syriac Peshitta has “heads of thousands and heads of hundreds and heads of fifties and heads of tens,” perhaps reflecting influence from Deut 1:15. as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment. 13 He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants. 15 He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators#tn Or “eunuchs” (so NAB); NIV “officials”; KJV, NASB, NRSV, NLT “officers.” and his servants. 16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants. 18 In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.”#tc The LXX adds “because you have chosen for yourselves a king.”
19 But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning.#tn Heb “and the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel.” Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us! 20 We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us#tn Heb “and go out before us.” and fight our battles.”
21 So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.#tn Heb “and Samuel heard all the words of the people and he spoke them into the ears of the Lord.” 22 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they say#tn Heb “listen to their voice.” and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”
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