1 Samuel 8 (New American Standard)
View In My BibleIsrael Demands a King
1 And it came about when Samuel was old that 1he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah ; they were judging in 2Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and 3took bribes and perverted justice. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at 4Ramah ; 5 and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now 5appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing was a6displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And 7Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for 8they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8 "Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day -in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods -so they are doing to you also. 9 "Now then, listen to their voice ; 9however, you shall solemnly bwarn them and tell them of 10the cprocedure of the king who will reign over them."Warning concerning a King
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to 11the people who had asked of him a king. 11 He said, "12This will be the dprocedure of the king who will reign over you: 13he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and 14they will run before his chariots. 12 "15He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to edo his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 "He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 "16He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 "He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16 "He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and fuse them for his work. 17 "He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 "Then 17you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but 18the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 Nevertheless, the people 19refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 20that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, 21he repeated them in the LORD'S hearing. 22 The LORD said to Samuel, "22Listen to their voice and gappoint them a king." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved. (New American Standard Version - Holy Bible)
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