¹⁰ After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.^{(A) 11} Then the Israelites did evil^(B) in the eyes of the Lord^(C) and served the Baals.^{(D) 12} They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods^(E) of the peoples around them.^(F) They aroused^(G) the Lord’s anger^{(H) 13} because they forsook^(I) him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.^{(J) 14} In his anger^(K) against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands^(L) of raiders who plundered^(M) them. He sold them^(N) into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.^{(O) 15} Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them^(P) to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.^(Q)

¹⁶ Then the Lord raised up judges,^[a](R) who saved^(S) them out of the hands of these raiders. ¹⁷ Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted^(T) themselves to other gods^(U) and worshiped them.^(V) They quickly turned^(W) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.^{(X) 18} Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved^(Y) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented^(Z) because of their groaning^(AA) under those who oppressed and afflicted^(AB) them. ¹⁹ But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt^(AC) than those of their ancestors,^(AD) following other gods and serving and worshiping them.^(AE) They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn^(AF) ways.

Israel Asks for a King

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed^(A) his sons as Israel’s leaders.^{[a] 2} The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,^(B) and they served at Beersheba.^{(C) 3} But his sons^(D) did not follow his ways. They turned aside^(E) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes^(F) and perverted^(G) justice.

⁴ So all the elders^(H) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.^{(I) 5} 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.”

⁶ But when they said, “Give us a king^(M) to lead us,” this displeased^(N) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ 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) 8} 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. ⁹ 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.”