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Israel Tells Samuel to Appoint a King

And it happened when Samuel was old that (A)he appointed his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in (B)Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after greedy gain and (C)took bribes and caused justice to turn aside.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at (D)Ramah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now (E)appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was (F)evil in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And (G)Samuel prayed to Yahweh. Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for (H)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. So now, listen to their voice; (I)however, you shall solemnly [a]testify to them and tell them of (J)the [b]custom of the king who will reign over them.”

The People Refuse Samuel’s Words

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of Yahweh to (K)the people who had asked of him a king. 11 And he said, “(L)This will be the [c]custom of the king who will reign over you: (M)he will take your sons and appoint them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen, and (N)they will run before his chariots. 12 (O)And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to [d]do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 (P)He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his [e]servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will also take your male slaves and your female slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and [f]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 Then (Q)you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (R)Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless, the people (S)refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 (T)that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 So Samuel heard all the words of the people, and (U)he repeated them in the hearing of Yahweh. 22 Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “(V)Listen to their voice and [g]appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:9 Or warn
  2. 1 Samuel 8:9 Lit judgment
  3. 1 Samuel 8:11 Lit judgment
  4. 1 Samuel 8:12 Lit plow his plowing
  5. 1 Samuel 8:14 Or slave, cf. 8:16; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  6. 1 Samuel 8:16 Lit make
  7. 1 Samuel 8:22 Lit cause a king to reign for them

Los israelitas piden un rey

Cuando Samuel entró en años, puso a sus hijos como líderes de Israel, con sede en Berseba. El hijo mayor se llamaba Joel y el segundo, Abías. Pero ninguno de los dos siguió el ejemplo de su padre, sino que ambos se dejaron guiar por la avaricia, aceptando sobornos y pervirtiendo la justicia.

Por eso se reunieron todos los jefes de Israel y fueron a Ramá para hablar con Samuel. Le dijeron: «Tú has envejecido ya, y tus hijos no siguen tu ejemplo. Mejor danos un rey que nos gobierne, como lo tienen todas las naciones».

Cuando dijeron que querían tener un rey, Samuel se disgustó. Entonces se puso a orar al Señor, pero el Señor dijo: «Hazle caso al pueblo en todo lo que te diga. En realidad, no te han rechazado a ti, sino a mí, pues no quieren que yo reine sobre ellos. Te están tratando del mismo modo que me han tratado a mí desde el día en que los saqué de Egipto hasta hoy. Me han abandonado para servir a otros dioses. Así que hazles caso, pero adviérteles claramente cómo el rey los tratará».

10 Samuel comunicó entonces el mensaje del Señor a la gente que estaba pidiendo un rey. 11 Les explicó:

—Así es como el rey va a gobernarlos: Les quitará a sus hijos para que se hagan cargo de los carros militares y de la caballería, y para que abran paso al carro real. 12 Los hará comandantes de miles y de cincuenta, y los pondrá a arar y a cosechar, y a fabricar armamentos y pertrechos para sus carros de guerra. 13 También les quitará a sus hijas para emplearlas como perfumistas, cocineras y panaderas. 14 Se apoderará de sus mejores campos, viñedos y olivares, y se los dará a sus ministros. 15 Además, les exigirá a ustedes una décima parte de sus cosechas y vendimias para entregársela a sus funcionarios y ministros. 16 Incluso, les quitará sus criados y criadas, así como sus mejores jóvenes[a] y asnos de manera que trabajen para él. 17 Les exigirá una décima parte de sus rebaños y ustedes mismos le servirán como esclavos. 18 Cuando llegue aquel día, clamarán por causa del rey que hayan escogido, pero el Señor no les responderá.

19 El pueblo, sin embargo, no hizo caso a Samuel, sino que dijo:

—¡De ninguna manera! Queremos un rey que nos gobierne. 20 Así seremos como las otras naciones, con un rey que nos gobierne y que marche al frente de nosotros cuando vayamos a la guerra.

21 Después de oír lo que el pueblo quería, Samuel se lo comunicó al Señor.

22 —Hazles caso —respondió el Señor—; dales un rey.

Entonces Samuel dijo a los israelitas:

—¡Regresen a sus pueblos!

Footnotes

  1. 8:16 jóvenes (TM); bueyes (LXX).

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