And it came about when
Samuel
was old
that ahe appointed
his sons
judges
over Israel
.
Now the name of his firstborn
was Joel
, and the name
of his second
, Abijah
; they were judging
in aBeersheba
.
His sons, however, did not walk
in his ways
, but turned
aside
after
dishonest
gain
and atook
bribes
and perverted
justice
.
Then all the elders
of Israel
gathered
together and came
to Samuel
at aRamah
;
and they said to him, "Behold
, you have grown
old
, and your sons
do not walk
in your ways
. Now
aappoint
a king
for us to judge
us like all
the nations
."
But the thing was 1 adispleasing
in the sight
of Samuel
when
they said
, "Give
us a king
to judge
us." And bSamuel
prayed
to the LORD
.
The LORD said
to Samuel
, "Listen
to the voice
of the people
in regard to all
that they say
to you, for athey 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
.
"Now then, listen
to their voice
; ahowever
, you shall solemnly
1warn
them and tell
them of bthe 2procedure
of the king
who
will reign
over
them."
So Samuel spoke
all
the words
of the LORD
to athe people
who had asked
of him a king
.
He said, " aThis
will be the 1procedure
of the king
who
will reign
over
you: bhe will take
your sons
and place
them for himself in his chariots
and among his horsemen
and cthey will run
before
his chariots
.
" aHe will appoint for himself commanders
of thousands
and of fifties
, and some to 1do
his plowing
and to reap
his harvest
and to make
his weapons
of war
and equipment
for his chariots
.
"He will also take your daughters
for perfumers
and cooks
and bakers
.
" aHe will take the best
of your fields
and your vineyards
and your olive
groves
and give
them to his servants
.
"He will take a tenth
of your seed
and of your vineyards
and give
to his officers
and to his servants
.
"He will also take your male
servants
and your female
servants
and your best
young
men
and your donkeys
and 1use
them for his work
.
"He will take a tenth
of your flocks
, and you yourselves
will become
his servants
.
"Then ayou will cry out in that day
because
of your king
whom
you have chosen
for yourselves, but bthe LORD
will not answer
you in that day
."
Nevertheless, the people arefused
to listen
to the voice
of Samuel
, and they said
, "No
, but there shall be a king
over
us,
athat we also may be like all
the nations
, that our king
may judge
us and go
out before
us and fight
our battles
."
Now after Samuel had heard
all
the words
of the people
, ahe repeated
them in the LORD'S
hearing
.
The LORD said
to Samuel
, " aListen
to their voice
and 1appoint
them a king
." So Samuel
said
to the men
of Israel
, "Go
every
man
to his city
."