11 He said, “These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots. 12 He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties,(A) to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots. 13 He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.(B) 15 He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants. 16 He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best cattle,[a] and your donkeys and use them for his work. 17 He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves,(C) but the Lord won’t answer you on that day.”(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 8:16 LXX; MT reads young men

11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take(A) your sons and make them serve(B) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(C) 12 Some he will assign to be commanders(D) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your(E) fields and vineyards(F) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.(G) 15 He will take a tenth(H) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer(I) you in that day.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men