Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to (A)the people who had asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “(B)This will be the [a]practice of the king who will reign over you: (C)he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and (D)they will run before his chariots. 12 (E)He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to [b]do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 (F)He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and [c]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then (G)you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (H)the Lord will not answer you on that day.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:11 Lit custom
  2. 1 Samuel 8:12 Lit plow his plowing
  3. 1 Samuel 8:16 Lit make

Samuel Warns against a Kingdom

10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 12 Some will be generals and captains in his army,[a] some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle[b] and donkeys for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”

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Footnotes

  1. 8:12 Hebrew commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties.
  2. 8:16 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads young men.