1 Samuel 8

VIN(i) 1 When Samuel grew old he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, and took bribes, and perverted justice. 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 and they said to him, Look, you are old and your sons don't walk in your ways; now appoint a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 Samuel was displeased when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the people in all that they say to you. In fact, it's not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king. 8 As they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, in forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they also do to you. 9 Now therefore listen to their voice, but protest solemnly to them and show them what the king who shall reign over them will do. 10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked for a king. 11 He said, This is what the king who shall reign over you will do: he will take your sons and appoint them to serve with his chariots and to be his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots; 12 He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and those to do his plowing and to reap his harvest, and those to make weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best products of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage to give to his officers and his servants. 16 He will take your men-servants and your servant-girls, and the best of your oxen and your asses and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and the LORD will not answer you in that day. 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said: "We want a king! 20 and we will be like all other nations. And our king shall judge us, and go out before us and fight our battles." 21 Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them before the LORD. 22 the LORD said to Samuel, Listen to them and give them a king. Samuel said to the men of Israel, Every man is to go back to his town.