Chapter 8

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old,¹ that he made⁴ his sons judges⁶ over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn ¹⁰⁶⁰ was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges⁶ in Beersheba.

And his sons walked¹ not in his ways, but turned aside⁴ after lucre, and took⁴ bribes, and perverted⁵⁵ judgment.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,¹⁰¹ and came⁴ to Samuel unto Ramah,

And said⁴ unto him, Behold, thou art old,¹ and thy sons walk¹ not in thy ways: now make³ us a king to judge² us like all the nations.

But the thing displeased^{4 5869} Samuel, when they said,¹ Give³ us a king to judge² us. And Samuel prayed¹⁰¹ unto the LORD.

And the LORD said⁴ unto Samuel, Hearken³ unto the voice of the people in all that they say⁴ unto thee: for they have not rejected¹ thee, but they have rejected¹ me, that I should not reign² over them.

According to all the works which they have done¹ since the day that I brought them up⁵³ out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken⁴ me, and served⁴ other gods, so do⁶ they also unto thee.

Now therefore hearken³ unto their voice: howbeit yet protest⁵⁵ solemnly⁵³ unto them, and shew⁵² them the manner of the king that shall reign⁴ over them.

And Samuel told⁴ all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked⁶ of him a king.

And he said,⁴ This will be the manner of the king that shall reign⁴ over you: He will take⁴ your sons, and appoint¹ [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run¹ before his chariots.

And he will appoint² him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear² his ground, and to reap² his harvest, and to make² his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

And he will take⁴ your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.⁶

And he will take⁴ your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give¹ [them] to his servants.

And he will take the tenth⁴ of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give¹ to his officers, and to his servants.

And he will take⁴ your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put¹ [them] to his work.

He will take the tenth⁴ of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

And ye shall cry out¹ in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen¹ you; and the LORD will not hear⁴ you in that day.

Nevertheless the people refused¹⁷ to obey² the voice of Samuel; and they said,⁴ Nay; but we will have a king over us;

That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge¹ us, and go out¹ before us, and fight⁸ our battles.

And Samuel heard⁴ all the words of the people, and he rehearsed¹⁷ them in the ears of the LORD.

And the LORD said⁴ to Samuel, Hearken³ unto their voice, and make⁵² them a king. And Samuel said⁴ unto the men of Israel, Go³ ye every man unto his city.