1 Samuel 8:11-18

The Voice

Samuel: ¹¹ If a king rules over you, things will be different from now on. He will make your sons drive his chariots, be his horsemen, and go into battle ahead of his chariots. ¹² Your king will select commanders over 1,000 and commanders over 50. He will make some of you to plow his fields and collect his harvest; some of you will be the blacksmiths forging his shields and swords for battle and outfitting his chariots. ¹³ He will force your daughters to make perfumes, to cook his meals, and to bake his bread. ¹⁴ He will seize the choicest of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards to give to his courtiers, ¹⁵ and a tenth of your grain and your vineyards to give to his court eunuchs and servants. ¹⁶ This king you ask for will take your slaves, male and female, as his own and put the choicest of your donkeys and your young men to do his work. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks. You will essentially become his slaves. ¹⁸ One day you will cry for mercy from the Eternal One to save you from this king you have chosen for yourselves, but be assured, He will not hear you on that day.