1 Samuel 08 The Israelites ask for a king and God grants him

 1 Samuel 08

The Israelites ask for a king and God grants him

1 And it came to pass that, when Samuel had aged, he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 And it was the name of his eldest son Joel, and the name of his second son Abia: and they were judges in Beersheba.

3 But his sons did not walk in his ways, but bowed to avarice, and took gifts, and perverted the judgment.

4 Then all the elders of Israel came together, and came to Samuel, to Ramah,

5 And they said to him, Behold, you are old, and your children do not walk in your ways: therefore make us a king over us now, that he may judge us, as all nations have.

6 But these words seemed evil to Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hear the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but have rejected me so that I would not reign over them.

8 As all the works have done from the day I brought them out of Egypt to this day, for they have left me, and other gods have served, so have they done to you.

9 Now therefore, hear his voice, but protest to them solemnly, and declare to them what will be the custom of the king who will reign over them.

10 And Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people, who asked him for a king.

11 And he said, This will be the custom of the king who will reign over you: he will take your children, and employ him for his chariots, and for his horsemen, so that they may run ahead of his chariots.

12 And he will make them for princes of thousands and for fifty years; and that they may plow their fields, and follow their harvest, and make their weapons of war and the equipment of their chariots.

13 And he will take his daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

14 And he will take the best of your lands, and of vineyards, and of your olive groves, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will decimate your seeds, and your vineyards, to give to his eunuchs and his servants.

16 Your servants, and your servants, and your best young men, and your asses, he will take, and use them in his work.

17 he will decimate your flock, and you will serve him as servants.

18 Then on that day you will cry out for the king, that you have chosen; but the Lord will not hear you that day.

19 But the people did not want to hear Samuel's voice; and they said, No, there will be a king over us.

20 And we too will be like all other nations; and our king will judge us, and he will come out before us, and make our wars.

21 And when Samuel heard all the words of the people, he spoke them before the ears of the Lord.

22 Then the Lord said to Samuel, Give ear to the voice, make them king. Then Samuel said to the children of Israel, Let each one go to his city.