1 Samuel 8:8-18

8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, with which they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do unto thee.
9 Now, therefore, hearken unto their voice; however first protest solemnly against them by declaring unto them the rights of the king that shall reign over them.
10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked him for a king.
11 And he said, This will be the right of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen, and some shall run before his chariot.
12 And he will appoint captains over thousands and captains over fifties and will set them to plough his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and the munitions of his chariots.
13 And he will take your daughters to be confectioneries and to be cooks and to be bakers.
14 And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your good oliveyards and give them to his slaves.
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.

1 Samuel 8:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 8

This chapter relates, how that Samuel being old, and his sons behaving ill, the people desired to have a king set over them, 1Sa 8:1-5, which case Samuel laid before the Lord, and he was directed by him to yield to the people's desire, but at the same time to set before them all the disadvantages and ill consequences that would arise from thence, which he did, 1Sa 8:6-18, but they insisting upon it, nevertheless, he gave them reason to expect that their request would be granted, 1Sa 8:19-22.

The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010