1 SamuelChapter 8
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1When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2His oldest son was named Joel. His second son was named Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3But his sons did not live the way he did. They went after money in dishonest ways. They took bribes and twisted what was fair. 4So all the elders of Israel got together. They came to Samuel at Ramah. 5They said to him, "Look, you are old. Your sons don't live the way you do. So now give us a king to judge us, like all the other nations have." 6They said, "Give us a king to judge us." Samuel was not pleased with what they asked. So he prayed to the LORD. 7The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the people in all they say to you. For they have not rejected you. They have rejected me as their king. 8They have done this ever since I brought them up out of Egypt, all the way until today. They have left me and served other gods. Now they are doing the same thing to you. 9So listen to them. But you must warn them very seriously. Show them how the king who rules over them will treat them." 10So Samuel told the people everything the LORD had said. These were the people asking him for a king. 11He said, "This is how the king who rules over you will treat you. He will take your sons. He will make them work with his chariots and horses. They will run in front of his chariots. 12He will make some of them leaders over a thousand men and some leaders over fifty. He will make others plow his fields and bring in his harvest. Others will make his weapons for war and parts for his chariots. 13He will take your daughters. They will make perfume for him, cook for him, and bake for him. 14He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive groves. He will give them to his servants. 15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your grapes. He will give it to his officials and servants. 16He will take your men servants and women servants. He will take your best cattle and donkeys. He will put them all to work for himself. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves. 18When that day comes, you will cry out for help because of the king you chose. But the LORD will not answer you on that day." 19But the people would not 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. He will lead us out and fight our battles." 21Samuel listened to everything the people said. Then he told it all to the LORD. 22The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to them. Give them a king." Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Each of you go back to your own town."