The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Samuel 08
1 When Samuel was old, he made his
sons judges over Israel.
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel,
and the name of his second, Abijah. They
were judges in Beersheba.
3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but
turned away after dishonest gain, took
bribes, and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered
themselves together and came to Samuel
to Ramah.
5 They said to him, “Behold, you are old,
and your sons don’t walk in your ways.
Now make us 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.”
Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
7 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the
voice of the people in all that they tell you;
for they have not rejected you, but they
have rejected me as the king over them.
8 According to all the works which they
have done since the day that I brought
them up out of Egypt even to this day, in
that they have forsaken me and served
other gods, so they also do to you.
9 Now therefore, listen to their voice.
However, you shall protest solemnly to
them, and shall show them the way of the
king who will reign over them.”
10 Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the
people who asked him for a king.
11 He said, “This will be the way of the
king who shall reign over you: he will
take your sons and appoint them as his
servants, for his chariots and to be his
horsemen; and they will run before his
chariots.
12 He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties;
and he will assign some to plow his ground
and to reap his harvest; and to make his
instruments of war and the instruments of
his chariots.
13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14 He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your
best, and give them to his servants.
15 He willtake one tenth of your seed and
of your vineyards, and give itto his officers
and to his servants.
16 He will take your male servants, your
female servants, your best youngmen, and
your donkeys, and assign them to his own
work.
17 He will take one tenth of your flocks;
and you will be his servants.
18 You will cry out in that day because of
your king whom you will have chosen for
yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer
you in that day.”
19 But the people refused to listen to the
voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we
will have a king over us,
20 that we alsomay be like allthenations;
and that our king may judge us, and go out
before us, and fight our battles.”
21 Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of
Yahweh.
22 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to
their voice, and make them a king.”
Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”