1 Samuel 8:6-19

International Children’s Bible

⁶When the elders said that, Samuel was not pleased. He prayed to the Lord. ⁷The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to whatever the people say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king. ⁸They are doing as they have always done. When I took them out of Egypt, they left me. They served other gods. They are doing the same to you. ⁹Now listen to the people. But give them a warning. Tell them what the king who rules over them will do.”

¹⁰Samuel answered those who had asked him for a king. He told them all the words of the Lord. ¹¹Samuel said, “If you have a king ruling over you, this is what he will do: He will take your sons. He will make them serve with his chariots and his horses. They will run in front of the king’s chariot. ¹²The king will make some of your sons commanders over 1,000 men or over 50 men. He will make some of your other sons plow his ground and reap his harvest. He will take others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³This king will take your daughters. Some of your daughters will make perfume. Others will cook and bake for him. ¹⁴He will take your best fields, vineyards and olive groves. He will give them to his servants. ¹⁵He will take one-tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers and servants. ¹⁶He will take your men servants and girl servants. He will take your best cattle and your donkeys. He will use them all for his own work. ¹⁷He will take one-tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸When that time comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose. The Lord will not answer you then.”