1 Samuel

1 Samuel 8 ©

1 By occasion of the ill government of Samuel's sons the Israelites desire a king. 6 Samuel is displeased, and prayeth; he is comforted by God, but withal admonished to hearken unto the people's request. 10 He setteth before them by God's command the manner in which they must expect a king to rule over them. 19 The people still continue their importunity, and God directeth Samuel to yield to them.

1

AND it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he amade his sons judges over Israel.

2

Now the name of his firstborn was 1Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in bBeer-sheba.

3

And chis sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after *lucre, and dtook bribes, and perverted judgment.

4

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto eRamah,

5

And said unto him, fBehold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now gmake us a king to judge us like all the nations.

f v.1,3.
6

¶But the hthing 2displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel iprayed unto the LORD.

7

And the LORD said unto Samuel, jHearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for kthey have not rejected thee, but lthey have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8

According mto all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9

Now therefore 3hearken unto their voice: 4howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and nshew them the o*manner of the king that shall reign over them.

n v.11-18.
10

¶And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

11

And he said, pThis will be the *manner of the king that shall reign over you: qHe will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to rear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13

And he will take your daughters to be s*confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14

And he twill take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his 5officers, and to his servants.

16

And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18

And ye shall ucry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

19

¶Nevertheless vthe people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20

That wwe also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

21

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he x*rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

22

And the LORD said to Samuel, yHearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.