1 Samuel 8

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

2His firstborn son was named Joel, and his second was named Abijah. They served as judges in Beersheba.

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

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

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

6But Samuel was displeased when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

7Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the people in everything they say to you. It is not you they have rejected; they have rejected me as their king.

8They are doing to you just what they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods.

9Now listen to them; but you must solemnly warn them and let them know the ways of the king who will reign over them.”

10Samuel told all the words of Yahweh 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 put them to work for himself with his chariots and his horsemen, and they will run in front of his chariots.

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

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

14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and 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 officials and his servants.

16He will take your male and female servants, the best of your young men, and your donkeys, and put them to work for himself.

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

18On that day you will cry out because of the king you have chosen for yourselves, but Yahweh will not answer you on that day.”

19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.

20Then we will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

21When Samuel had heard all that the people said, he repeated it in the hearing of Yahweh.

22Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to them and give them a king.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to your own town.”