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The Blue Letter Bible

1 Samuel 8 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Israel’s Demand for a King
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:1 -

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:2 -

His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:3 -

However, his sons did not walk in his ways ​— ​they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:4 -

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:5 -

They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:6 -

When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the LORD.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:7 -

But the LORD told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:8 -

“They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me,[fn] since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:9 -

“Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:10 -

Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who were asking him for a king.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:11 -

He said, “These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:12 -

“He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:13 -

“He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:14 -

“He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:15 -

“He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:16 -

“He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best cattle,[fn] and your donkeys and use them for his work.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:17 -

“He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:18 -

“When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won’t answer you on that day.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:19 -

The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No! ” they said. “We must have a king over us.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:20 -

“Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:21 -

Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to the LORD.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 8:22 -

“Listen to them,” the LORD told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.”

Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”

CSB Footnotes
LXX; MT omits to me
LXX; MT reads young men
CSB

Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Additional information is provided here.

For more information on this translation, see the CSB Preface.

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1 Samuel Chapter 8 — Additional Translations: