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1 Samuel 4-8
Revised Geneva Translation
1 Samuel 4-8
Revised Geneva Translation
4 And Samuel spoke to all Israel. And Israel went out against the Philistines to battle and camped beside Ebenezer. And the Philistines camped in Aphek.
2 And the Philistines put themselves in formation against Israel. And when they joined the battle, Israel was struck down before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.
3 So, when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD struck us down this day before the Philistines? Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh to us, so that when it comes among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.”
4 Then the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Hosts, Who dwells between the Cherubims. And there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, with the Ark of the Covenant of God.
5 And when the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted a mighty shout, so that the Earth echoed.
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What is the meaning of the sound of this mighty shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they understood that the Ark of the LORD had come into the camp.
7 And the Philistines were afraid, and said, “God has come into the camp!” Therefore, they said, “Woe to us! For it has not been so until now.
8 “Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? These are the Gods Who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness!
9 “Be strong and play the men, O Philistines, so that you will not be servants to the Hebrews as they have served you! Be valiant, therefore, and fight!”
10 And the Philistines fought. And Israel was struck down; and every man fled into his tent. And there was an exceedingly great slaughter. For thirty thousand footmen of Israel fell.
11 And the Ark of God was taken. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12 And the same day, a man of Benjamin ran out of the army and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and earth upon his head.
13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the roadside, waiting. For his heart feared for the Ark of God. And when the man came into the city to tell it, all the city cried out.
14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does this noise of tumult mean?” And the man came in, hastily, and told Eli.
15 Now, Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see.
16 And the man said to Eli, “I came from the army, and I fled this day out of the camp.” And he said, “What has happened, my son?”
17 Then the messenger answered, and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines; and there has also been a great slaughter among the people. And moreover, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead. And the Ark of God has been taken.”
18 And when he mentioned of the Ark of God, Eli fell from his seat, backward, by the side of the gate. And his neck was broken, and he died. For he was an old man and heavy. And he had judged Israel for forty years.
19 And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near labor. And when she heard the report that the Ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself, and went into labor. For her pains came upon her.
20 And about the time of her death, the women that stood around her said to her, “Do not fear. For you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention.
21 And she named the child, Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God was taken,” and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 She said again, “The glory has departed from Israel! For the Ark of God has been taken!”
5 Then the Philistines took the Ark of God and carried it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 The Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
3 And when they of Ashdod rose the next day, in the morning, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground, before the Ark of the LORD. And they took up Dagon and set him in his place again.
4 They also rose up early in the morning the next day. And behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground, before the Ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and the two palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold. Only the stump of Dagon was left of him.
5 Therefore, the priests of Dagon, and all who come into Dagon’s house, do not walk on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.
6 But the Hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw this, they said, “Do not let the Ark of the God of Israel remain with us! For His Hand is severe upon us, and upon Dagon, our god!”
8 They sent, therefore, and gathered all the princes of the Philistines to them, and said, “What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” And they answered, “Let the Ark of the God of Israel be carried around to Gath.” And they carried the Ark of the God of Israel around.
9 And when they had carried it around, the Hand of the LORD was against the city with very great destruction. And He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and they had tumors break out.
10 Therefore, they sent the Ark of God to Ekron. And as soon as the Ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought theArk of the God of Israel to us to kill us and our people!”
11 Therefore they sent and gathered together all the princes of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the Ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people!” For there was a destruction and death throughout all the city; and the Hand of God was very severe there.
12 And the men who did not die were struck with the tumors. And the cry of the city went up to Heaven.
6 So the Ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines for seven months.
2 And the Philistines called the priests and the soothsayers, saying, “What shall we do with the Ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it home again?”
3 And they said, “If you send away the Ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but give it a Sin Offering. Then you shall be healed, and it shall be revealed to you why His Hand has not departed from you.”
4 Then they said, “What shall be the Sin Offering which we shall give to it?” And they answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the princes of the Philistines. For one plague was on you all, and on your princes.
5 “Therefore, you shall make the likenesses of your tumors and the likenesses of your rats who destroy the land. So you shall give glory to the God of Israel, so that He may take His Hand from you and from your gods and from your land.
6 “Why, then, should you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts when He wrought mightily among them? Did they not let them go, and they departed?
7 “Now, therefore, make a new cart, and take two milk cows, upon which there has never come a yoke. And tie the cows to the cart and bring the calves home from them.
8 “Then take the Ark of the LORD and set it upon the cart. And put the jewels of gold, which you give it for a Sin Offering, in a coffer by its side. And send it away, so that it may go.
9 “And watch. If it goes up by way of its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, it is He who brought us this great calamity. But if not, we shall know then that it is not His Hand that struck us. It happened to us by chance.”
10 And the men did so. For they took two cows that gave milk and tied them to the cart and shut up the calves at home.
11 So, they set the Ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the rats of gold, and with the likenesses of their tumors.
12 And the cows went the straight way to Beth Shemesh, and kept one path, and lowed as they went, and turned neither to the right nor to the left. Also, the princes of the Philistines went after them to the borders of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now, they of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted up their eyes and spied the Ark and rejoiced when they saw it.
14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth Shemite, and stood still there. There was also a great stone. And they split the wood of the cart and offered the cow for a Burnt Offering to the LORD.
15 And the Levites took down the Ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it (in which the jewels of gold were) and put them on the great stone. And the men of Beth Shemesh offered Burnt Offering and sacrificed Sacrifices that same day to the LORD.
16 And when the five princes of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
17 So these are the golden tumors which the Philistines gave for a Sin Offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Askelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron;
18 and golden rats (according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines) to the five princes (both of walled towns and of towns unwalled) as far as the great Stone of Abel, upon which they set the Ark of the LORD (which remains to this day in the field of Joshua, the Beth Shemite).
19 And He struck some of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked in the Ark of the LORD. He killed fifty thousand seventy men among the people. And the people lamented because the LORD had killed the people with so great a slaughter.
20 Therefore, the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this Holy LORD God? And to whom shall He go from us?”
21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the Ark of the LORD. Come down! Take it up to you!”
7 Then, the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took up the Ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab, on the hill. And they sanctified Eleazar, his son, to keep the Ark of the LORD.
2 (For the Ark had stayed in Kirjath Jearim a long time, for twenty years.) And all the House of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the House of Israel, saying, “If you have come back to the LORD with all your heart, put away the strange gods from among you, and Ashtoreth, and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him only; and He shall deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
4 Then, the children of Israel did put away Baal and Ashtoreth and served the LORD only.
5 And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to the LORD.”
6 And they gathered together to Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted the same day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD!” And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together in Mizpah, the princes of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard that, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease crying to the LORD our God for us, so that He may save us out of the hand of the Philistines!”
9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it all together for a Burnt Offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
10 And as Samuel offered the Burnt Offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder upon the Philistines that day and scattered them. So they were killed before Israel.
11 And the men of Israel went from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them until they came under Beth Car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name, Ebenezer. And he said, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued. And they no longer came back into the territory of Israel. And the Hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life.
14 Also, the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron all the way to Gath. And Israel delivered the territories of the same out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life,
16 and went about year after year to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah and judged Israel in all those places.
17 Afterward, he returned to Ramah, for his house was there. And there he judged Israel. Also, he built an Altar there to the LORD.
8 When Samuel had now become old, he made his sons judges over Israel,
2 judges in Beersheba. The name of his eldest son was Joel and the name of the second was Abijah.
3 And his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after unjust gain, and took bribes, and perverted their judgment.
4 Therefore, all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel, to Ramah,
5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old. And your sons do not walk in your ways. Make us now a king to judge us, like all the nations.”
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Hear the voice of the people in all that they shall say to you. For they have not cast you away, but have cast Me away, so that I would not reign over them.
8 “As they have always done, since I brought them out of Egypt up until this day (forsaking Me and serving other gods), even so they do to you.
9 “Now, therefore, listen to their voice. However, still testify to them and show them the behavior of the king who shall reign over them.”
10 So, Samuel told all the Words of the LORD to the people who asked for a king from Him.
11 And he said, “This shall be the behavior of the king who shall reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen. And some shall run before his chariot.
12 “Also, he will make them his captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make instruments of war, and the things that serve for his chariots.
13 “He will also take your daughters and make them apothecaries and cooks and bakers.
14 “And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your best olive trees and give them to his servants.
15 “And he will take a tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give it to his eunuchs and to his servants.
16 “And he will take your menservants and your maidservants and the chief of your young men and your donkeys and put them to work for him.
17 “He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you shall be his servants.
18 “And you shall cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the LORD will not hear you on that day.”
19 But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, but said, “No, but there shall be a king over us!
20 “And we, also, will be like all other nations; and our king shall judge us and go out before us and fight our battles!”
21 Therefore, when Samuel heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the Ears of the LORD.
22 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice; and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city!”
1 Samuel 4-8
New International Version
1 Samuel 4-8
New International Version
4 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer,(A) and the Philistines at Aphek.(B) 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why(C) did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark(D) of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh,(E) so that he may go with us(F) and save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim.(G) And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout(H) that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew(I) camp?”
When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid.(J) “A god has[a] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck(K) the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues(L) in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they(M) have been to you. Be men, and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated(N) and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(O)
Death of Eli
12 That same day a Benjamite(P) ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust(Q) on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli(R) sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”
The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes(S) had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”
Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”
17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead,(T) and the ark of God has been captured.”(U)
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led[b](V) Israel forty years.(W)
19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.
21 She named the boy Ichabod,[c](X) saying, “The Glory(Y) has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The Glory(Z) has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”(AA)
The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron
5 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer(AB) to Ashdod.(AC) 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.(AD) 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen(AE) on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken(AF) off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.(AG)
6 The Lord’s hand(AH) was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation(AI) on them and afflicted them with tumors.[d](AJ) 7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” 8 So they called together all the rulers(AK) of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”
They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.(AL)” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.
9 But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic.(AM) He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.[e] 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.(AN)
As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” 11 So they called together all the rulers(AO) of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it[f] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. 12 Those who did not die(AP) were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
The Ark Returned to Israel
6 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners(AQ) and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
3 They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift;(AR) by all means send a guilt offering(AS) to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand(AT) has not been lifted from you.”
4 The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number(AU) of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague(AV) has struck both you and your rulers. 5 Make models of the tumors(AW) and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory(AX) to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. 6 Why do you harden(AY) your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel’s god dealt harshly with them,(AZ) did they(BA) not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?
7 “Now then, get a new cart(BB) ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked.(BC) Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the Lord and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh,(BD) then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us but that it happened to us by chance.”
10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11 They placed the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat(BE) in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. 14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering(BF) to the Lord. 15 The Levites(BG) took down the ark of the Lord, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock.(BH) On that day the people of Beth Shemesh(BI) offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. 16 The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.
17 These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the Lord—one each(BJ) for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. 18 And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers—the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
19 But God struck down(BK) some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy[g] of them to death because they looked(BL) into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them. 20 And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand(BM) in the presence of the Lord, this holy(BN) God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”
21 Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim,(BO) saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.” 7 1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark(BP) of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s(BQ) house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim(BR) a long time—twenty years in all.
Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah
Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.(BS) 3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning(BT) to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid(BU) yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths(BV) and commit(BW) yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,(BX) and he will deliver(BY) you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
5 Then Samuel(BZ) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,(CA) and I will intercede(CB) with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah,(CC) they drew water and poured(CD) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[h](CE) of Israel at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid(CF) because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying(CG) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel(CH) took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.(CI)
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered(CJ) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic(CK) that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone(CL) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[i](CM) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued(CN) and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron(CO) to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.(CP)
15 Samuel(CQ) continued as Israel’s leader(CR) all(CS) the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel(CT) to Gilgal(CU) to Mizpah, judging(CV) Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah,(CW) where his home was, and there he also held court(CX) for Israel. And he built an altar(CY) there to the Lord.
Israel Asks for a King
8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed(CZ) his sons as Israel’s leaders.[j] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,(DA) and they served at Beersheba.(DB) 3 But his sons(DC) did not follow his ways. They turned aside(DD) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes(DE) and perverted(DF) justice.
4 So all the elders(DG) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(DH) 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(DI) to lead[k](DJ) us, such as all the other nations(DK) have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king(DL) to lead us,” this displeased(DM) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen(DN) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(DO) but they have rejected me as their king.(DP) 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(DQ) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(DR) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
10 Samuel told(DS) 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(DT) your sons and make them serve(DU) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(DV) 12 Some he will assign to be commanders(DW) 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(DX) fields and vineyards(DY) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.(DZ) 15 He will take a tenth(EA) 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[l] 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(EB) you in that day.(EC)”
19 But the people refused(ED) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want(EE) a king(EF) over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,(EG) 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(EH) it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen(EI) to them and give them a king.”
Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 4:7 Or “Gods have (see Septuagint)
- 1 Samuel 4:18 Traditionally judged
- 1 Samuel 4:21 Ichabod means no glory.
- 1 Samuel 5:6 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate tumors. And rats appeared in their land, and there was death and destruction throughout the city
- 1 Samuel 5:9 Or with tumors in the groin (see Septuagint)
- 1 Samuel 5:11 Or he
- 1 Samuel 6:19 A few Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint 50,070
- 1 Samuel 7:6 Traditionally judge; also in verse 15
- 1 Samuel 7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help.
- 1 Samuel 8:1 Traditionally judges
- 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
- 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men
Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
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