1 Samuel 8
8
Israel Demands a King
1Now when Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second Abijah—they were judges in Beersheba.
3His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain—they took bribes and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
5and said to him, “Behold, you have grown old and your sons do not walk 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.” So Samuel prayed to Adonai.
7Then Adonai said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For they have not rejected you, rather they have rejected Me from being king over them.
8Like all the deeds that they have done since the day I brought them out of Egypt to this day—forsaking Me and worshiping other gods—so they are doing to you also.
9So now, listen to their voice. However, you must earnestly forewarn them, and declare to them the rulings of the king who will reign over them.”
10Now Samuel reported all the words of Adonai to the people who were asking him for a king.
11“This will be the practice of the king that will reign over you,” he said. “He will draft your sons and assign them as his charioteers and horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.
12He will appoint them as commanders of thousands and captains of fifties, also some to plow his fields, reap his harvest, make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
13Also he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks and bakers.
14He will seize the best of your fields, vineyards and olive groves, and give them to his courtiers.
15He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage and give it to his officials and slaves.
16He will also take your male and female servants, your best young men and your donkeys and make them do his work.
17He will also take the tenth of your flocks. Then you yourselves will become his slaves.
18When the day comes and you cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, Adonai will not answer you on that day.”
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel, and they said, “No! But a king should be over us!
20So we may become like all the nations—having our king who will judge us, go out before us and fight our battles.”
21After Samuel heard all the words of the people, he reported them back in the hearing of Adonai.
22Adonai said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint a king to reign for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each one to his town.”
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1 Samuel 8: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
1 Samuel 8
8
1And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba. 3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah, 5and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations. 6And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah. 7And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 10And Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king. 11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots; 12and he will take them that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots. 13And he will take your daughters for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers. 14And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best, will he take and give to his servants. 15And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants. 16And he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work. 17He will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants. 18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day. 19And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us, 20that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars. 21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah. 22And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.