1 Samuel 8:17

17 He will also take the tenth of your sheep, and finally ye shall be his slaves.

1 Samuel 8:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 8:17

He will take the tenth of your sheep
As well as of their seed and vineyards; and not the tithe of their flocks only, but of their herds also, which are here included, as Kimchi observes:

and ye shall be his servants:
made slaves of by him, even as the Canaanitish servants were, according to Abarbinel; though others interpret it more mildly of their being obliged to pay tribute and taxes, for the support of his government.

1 Samuel 8:17 In-Context

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards to give to his officers and to his slaves.
16 And he will take your menslaves and your maidslaves and your good young men and your asses and do his work with them.
17 He will also take the tenth of your sheep, and finally ye shall be his slaves.
18 And ye shall cry 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, the people refused to hear the voice of Samuel, and they said, No, but we will have a king over us
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010