Israel Asks for a King

8 When Samuel was old, he ·made [appointed] his sons judges ·for [over] Israel. ² His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. Joel and Abijah were judges in Beersheba [^Cin the Negev to the extreme south]. ³ But Samuel’s sons did not ·live as he did [^Lwalk/follow in his ways]. They ·tried to get money dishonestly [were greedy; wandered after money], and they accepted ·money secretly [bribes] ·to make wrong judgments [and perverted justice/made biased decisions].

⁴ So all the elders ·came together [assembled] and met Samuel at Ramah [1:1]. ⁵ They said to him, “You’re old, and your sons don’t ·live as you do [^Lwalk/follow in your ways]. Give us a king to ·rule over [judge] us like all the other nations [Deut. 17:14].”

⁶ When the elders said, “Give us [Appoint; ^LNow, set for us] a king to ·rule over [judge] us,” ·Samuel was not pleased [^Lit was evil/wrong in the eyes of Samuel]. So he prayed to the Lord, ⁷ and the Lord told Samuel, “Listen to ·whatever [^Lthe voice of] the people [^Lregarding what they] say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king. ⁸ They are doing as they have always done. When I ·took them out of [brought them up from] Egypt, they ·left [abandoned; deserted; forsook] me and ·served [followed] other gods. They are doing the same to you. ⁹ Now ·listen to the people [listen to their voice; do as they ask], but [^Lsolemnly] warn them ·what the king who rules over them will do [about the way/manner/custom in which he will rule/reign over them].”

¹⁰ So Samuel told those who had asked him for a king ·what [everything; ^Lall the words] the Lord had said. ¹¹ Samuel said, “If you have a king ·ruling [reigning] over you, ·this is what he will do [he will act this way; ^Lthis will be the way/manner/custom in which he will rule/reign over you]: He will ·take [draft] your sons and make them serve with his chariots and his ·horses [or charioteers; horsemen], and they will run in front of the king’s chariot. ¹² He will make some of your sons commanders over thousands or over fifties. He will make some of your other sons plow his ·ground [fields] and ·reap his harvest [harvest his crops]. He will take others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to make perfume and cook and bake for him. ¹⁴ He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his ·servants [officials; attendants]. ¹⁵ He will take ·one-tenth [a tithe] of your ·grain [crops; seed] and ·grapes [vineyards] and give it to his officers and ·servants [officials; attendants]. ¹⁶ He will take your male and female servants, your best cattle, and your donkeys and use them all for his own work. ¹⁷ He will take ·one-tenth [a tithe] of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his ·slaves [servants]. ¹⁸ ·When that time comes [^LIn that day], you will cry out because of the king you ·chose [selected]. But the Lord will not ·answer [help] you then.”

¹⁹ But the people ·would not [^Lrefused to] listen to [^Lthe voice of] Samuel. They said, “No! We ·want [are determined to have] a king to rule over us. ²⁰ Then we will be the same as all the other nations. Our king will ·judge for [govern; rule over] us and go ·with [before] us and fight our battles.”

²¹ After Samuel ·heard [listened to] all that the people said, he repeated their words ·to the Lord [^Lin the Lord’s hearing/ears]. ²² The Lord answered, “You must ·listen to them [do as they say]. ·Give [Appoint] them a king.”

Then Samuel told the people of Israel, “Go back [^Leach of you] to your ·towns [own town/city].”