⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know^(A) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

²⁵ Samuel explained^(A) to the people the rights and duties^(B) of kingship.^(C) He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.

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)”

¹⁸ The prince must not take^(A) any of the inheritance^(B) of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that not one of my people will be separated from their property.’”

¹⁸ When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,^(A)’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for^[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^(B)

⁷ “‘The prince will have the land bordering each side of the area formed by the sacred district and the property of the city. It will extend westward from the west side and eastward from the east side, running lengthwise from the western to the eastern border parallel to one of the tribal portions.^{(A) 8} This land will be his possession in Israel. And my princes will no longer oppress my people but will allow the people of Israel to possess the land according to their tribes.^(B)

⁵² All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took^(A) him into his service.

¹³ Now it was the practice^(A) of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat^(B) was being boiled