1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his
sons judges over Israel.
2 Now
the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges
in Beersheba.
3 And
his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes,
and perverted judgment.
4 Then
all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto
Ramah,
5 And
said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy 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. And
Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7 And
the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they
say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that
I should not reign over them.
8 According
to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out
of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other
gods, so do they also unto thee.
9 Now
therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and
shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10 And
Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
11 And
he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will
take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his
horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
12 And
he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to
ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war,
and instruments of his chariots.
13 And
he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks,
and to be bakers.
14 And
he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the
best of them, and give them to his servants.
15 And
he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his
officers, and to his servants.
16 And
he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young
men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 He
will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
18 And
ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen
you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19 Nevertheless
the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will
have a king over us;
20 That
we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out
before us, and fight our battles.
21 And
Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of
the LORD.
22 And
the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And
Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
