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Les Israélites demandent un roi

Samuel, devenu vieux, confia à ses fils l’administration de la justice en Israël. L’aîné s’appelait Joël et le cadet Abiya. Ils s’établirent à Beer-Sheva[a] pour y rendre la justice. Mais ils ne suivaient pas les traces de leur père : comme ils étaient corrompus par l’amour de l’argent, ils acceptaient des pots-de-vin et faussaient le droit. C’est pourquoi tous les responsables d’Israël se réunirent auprès de Samuel à Rama. Ils lui déclarèrent : Te voilà devenu âgé, et tes fils ne suivent pas tes traces ; maintenant, établis sur nous un roi pour qu’il nous dirige[b] comme cela se fait chez tous les autres peuples[c].

Cette demande d’établir sur eux un roi pour les diriger déplut à Samuel et il pria l’Eternel. L’Eternel lui répondit : Ecoute ce peuple et accepte toutes leurs demandes. En effet, ce n’est pas toi qu’ils rejettent, c’est moi : ils ne veulent plus que je règne sur eux. Ils agissent à ton égard comme ils n’ont cessé d’agir envers moi depuis le jour où je les ai fait sortir d’Egypte jusqu’à aujourd’hui : ils m’ont abandonné pour rendre un culte à d’autres dieux. Maintenant, fais donc ce qu’ils te demandent, mais avertis-les bien en leur faisant connaître les droits du roi qui régnera sur eux.

Les droits du roi

10 Samuel rapporta au peuple qui lui demandait un roi toutes les paroles de l’Eternel. 11 Il leur dit : Voilà quels seront les droits du roi qui régnera sur vous. Il prendra vos fils pour en faire ses soldats et les affectera au service de ses chars de guerre et de ses chevaux, et ils auront à courir devant son char personnel[d]. 12 Il choisira certains parmi eux pour en faire des officiers commandant de « milliers » et de « cinquantaines[e] ». Il en prendra d’autres pour labourer ses champs et récolter ses moissons, ou pour fabriquer ses armes et l’équipement de ses chars. 13 Il prendra vos filles comme parfumeuses, cuisinières et boulangères. 14 Il prendra vos champs, vos vignes et vos meilleurs oliviers pour les donner à ses hauts fonctionnaires. 15 Il prélèvera une redevance de dix pour cent sur les produits de vos champs et de vos vignes et il la distribuera à ses courtisans et à ses hauts fonctionnaires. 16 Il prendra vos serviteurs, vos servantes et vos jeunes gens[f] vigoureux, et même vos ânes, et il s’en servira pour ses propres travaux. 17 Il prélèvera une bête sur dix dans vos troupeaux et vous deviendrez ses serviteurs. 18 Ce jour-là, vous vous lamenterez à cause du roi que vous aurez choisi, mais l’Eternel ne vous écoutera pas.

19 Le peuple refusa de tenir compte des avertissements de Samuel. Les Israélites insistèrent en déclarant : Qu’importe ! Nous voulons quand même un roi. 20 Nous voulons, nous aussi, être dirigés comme tous les autres peuples. Notre roi rendra la justice parmi nous et prendra notre commandement pour nous mener au combat.

21 Samuel écouta tout ce que disait le peuple et le rapporta à l’Eternel. 22 L’Eternel lui répondit : Accorde-leur ce qu’ils te demandent et établis un roi sur eux !

Puis Samuel dit aux gens d’Israël : Que chacun retourne dans sa ville !

Footnotes

  1. 8.2 A 70 kilomètres au sud-ouest de Jérusalem, donc loin de la région où Samuel rendait la justice : c’est donc pour compléter son action que Samuel institua ses fils, non pour qu’ils le remplacent ou prennent sa succession.
  2. 8.5 Autre traduction : pour qu’il rende la justice pour nous (de même aux v. 6 et 20).
  3. 8.5 Voir Dt 17.14.
  4. 8.11 Les chars royaux étaient précédés de coureurs (2 S 15.1 ; 1 R 1.5).
  5. 8.12 Il s’agit peut-être là de régiments et de compagnies de soldats comportant respectivement quelques centaines et quelques dizaines d’hommes.
  6. 8.16 Au lieu de : vos jeunes gens, l’ancienne version grecque a : votre bétail.

Israel Asks for a King

When Samuel was old, he ·made [appointed] his sons judges ·for [over] Israel. His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. Joel and Abijah were judges in Beersheba [C in the Negev to the extreme south]. But Samuel’s sons did not ·live as he did [L walk/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].

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

When the elders said, “Give us [Appoint; L Now, set for us] a king to ·rule over [judge] us,” ·Samuel was not pleased [L it was evil/wrong in the eyes of Samuel]. So he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord told Samuel, “Listen to ·whatever [L the voice of] the people [L regarding what they] say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king. 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. Now ·listen to the people [listen to their voice; do as they ask], but [L solemnly] 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; L all 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; L this 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 [L In 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 [L refused to] listen to [L the 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 [L in 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 [L each of you] to your ·towns [own town/city].”

Israel Asks for a King

When Samuel grew old, he appointed(A) his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,(B) and they served at Beersheba.(C) But his sons(D) did not follow his ways. They turned aside(E) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes(F) and perverted(G) justice.

So all the elders(H) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(I) They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(J) to lead[b](K) us, such as all the other nations(L) have.”

But when they said, “Give us a king(M) to lead us,” this displeased(N) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen(O) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(P) but they have rejected me as their king.(Q) As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(R) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(S) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10 Samuel told(T) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take(U) your sons and make them serve(V) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(W) 12 Some he will assign to be commanders(X) 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(Y) fields and vineyards(Z) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.(AA) 15 He will take a tenth(AB) 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[c] 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(AC) you in that day.(AD)

19 But the people refused(AE) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want(AF) a king(AG) over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,(AH) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated(AI) it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen(AJ) to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:1 Traditionally judges
  2. 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
  3. 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men

At nangyari, nang si Samuel ay matanda na, na kaniyang ginawang mga hukom sa Israel ang kaniyang mga anak.

Ang pangalan nga ng kaniyang panganay ay Joel; at ang pangalan ng kaniyang ikalawa ay Abia: sila'y mga hukom sa Beer-seba.

At ang kaniyang mga anak ay hindi lumakad sa kaniyang mga daan, kundi lumingap sa mahalay na kapakinabangan, at tumanggap ng mga suhol, at sinira ang paghatol.

Nang magkagayo'y nagpipisan ang mga matanda ng Israel, at naparoon kay Samuel sa Ramatha;

At kanilang sinabi sa kaniya, Narito, ikaw ay matanda na, at ang iyong mga anak ay hindi lumalakad sa iyong mga daan: ngayon nga'y lagyan mo kami ng isang hari upang humatol sa amin gaya ng lahat ng mga bansa.

Nguni't hindi minabuti ni Samuel, nang kanilang sabihin, Bigyan mo kami ng isang hari upang humatol sa amin. At si Samuel ay nanalangin sa Panginoon.

At sinabi ng Panginoon kay Samuel, Dinggin mo ang tinig ng bayan sa lahat ng kanilang sinasabi sa iyo; sapagka't hindi ikaw ang kanilang itinakuwil, kundi itinakuwil nila ako, upang huwag akong maghari sa kanila.

Ayon sa lahat na gawa na kanilang ginawa mula nang araw na iahon ko sila mula sa Egipto hanggang sa araw na ito, sa kanilang pagiiwan sa akin, at paglilingkod sa ibang mga dios ay gayon ang ginagawa nila sa iyo.

Ngayon nga'y dinggin mo ang kanilang tinig: gayon ma'y tatanggi kang mainam sa kanila, at ipakikilala mo sa kanila ang paraan ng hari na maghahari sa kanila.

10 At isinaysay ni Samuel ang buong salita ng Panginoon sa bayan na humihingi sa kaniya ng isang hari.

11 At kaniyang sinabi, Ito ang magiging paraan ng hari na maghahari sa inyo: kaniyang kukunin ang inyong mga anak at kaniyang ilalagay sa kaniyang mga karo, at upang maging mga mangangabayo niya; at sila'y tatakbo sa unahan ng kaniyang mga karo;

12 At kaniyang mga ihahalal sa kaniya na mga kapitan ng lilibuhin at mga kapitan ng lilimangpuin; at ang iba ay upang umararo ng kaniyang lupa, at umani ng kaniyang aanihin, at upang gumawa ng kaniyang mga sangkap na pangdigma, at sangkap sa kaniyang mga karo.

13 At kaniyang kukunin ang inyong mga anak na babae upang maging mga manggagawa ng pabango, at maging mga tagapagluto, at maging mga magtitinapay.

14 At kaniyang kukunin ang inyong mga bukid, at ang inyong mga ubasan, at ang inyong mga olibohan, sa makatuwid baga'y ang pinakamabuti sa mga yaon, upang mga ibigay sa kaniyang mga lingkod.

15 At kaniyang kukunin ang ika-sangpung bahagi ng inyong binhi, at ng inyong mga ubasan, at ibibigay sa kaniyang mga punong kawal, at sa kaniyang mga lingkod.

16 At kaniyang kukunin ang inyong mga aliping lalake at babae, at ang inyong pinakamabuting bataan, at ang inyong mga asno, at mga ilalagay sa kaniyang mga gawain.

17 Kaniyang kukunin ang ikasangpung bahagi ng inyong mga kawan: at kayo'y magiging kaniyang mga lingkod.

18 At kayo'y dadaing sa araw na yaon, dahil sa inyong hari na inyong pipiliin; at hindi kayo sasagutin ng Panginoon sa araw na yaon.

19 Nguni't tinanggihang dinggin ng bayan ang tinig ni Samuel; at kanilang sinabi, Hindi; kundi magkakaroon kami ng hari sa amin;

20 Upang kami naman ay maging gaya ng lahat ng mga bansa, at upang hatulan kami ng aming hari, at lumabas sa unahan namin, at ipakipaglaban ang aming pakikipagbaka.

21 At narinig ni Samuel ang lahat ng mga salita ng bayan, at kaniyang mga isinaysay sa pakinig ng Panginoon.

22 At sinabi ng Panginoon kay Samuel, Dinggin mo ang kanilang tinig at lagyan mo sila ng hari. At sinabi ni Samuel sa mga tao sa Israel, Yumaon ang bawa't isa sa inyo sa kanikaniyang bayan.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.

22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.