1 Samuel 8

8 ¹ Now when Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. ² His firstborn son was Joel and his second was Abijah; they served as judges in Beersheba. ³ His sons did not follow his ways but chased dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

⁴ Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said, "You're old, and your sons don't follow your ways. Now appoint a king to rule us, like all the nations." ⁶ Samuel was unhappy when they said, "Give us a king to govern us," and prayed to our Father.

⁷ Then our Father told Samuel, "Listen to the people in all they say to you; they haven't rejected you; they've rejected me as their king." ⁸ As, since I brought them from Egypt until today, they've abandoned me, serving other gods—so they treat you. ⁹ Now listen to them, but warn them firmly and tell them how their king will rule.

Samuel Warns of the King's Ways

¹⁰ So Samuel told the people asking him for a king all the words of our Father. ¹¹ He said, "This is what the king who reigns over you will do: he will take your sons for his chariots and horsemen, to run ahead of them. ¹² He will appoint commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons and chariot gear. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and vineyards, giving it to his officials and servants. ¹⁶ He will take your male and female servants, best young men, and donkeys for his work. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose, but our Father will not answer you.

¹⁹ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, "No! We want a king over us, ²⁰ so we can be like all the nations, with our king ruling us, leading us out, fighting our battles."

²¹ When Samuel heard all the words of the people, he repeated them to our Father.

²² our Father said to Samuel, "Listen to them; give them a king." Samuel then said to Israel's men, "Go, each to your own town."