1 Samuel 8 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Israel Tells Samuel to Appoint a King

And it happened^H1961 when^H834 Samuel^H8050 was^H2204 old^H2204 that he appointed^H7760 his sons^H1121 judges^H8199 over Israel^H3478.

1Sa 8:2

1Sa 8:2The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

1Sa 8:3

1Sa 8:3But his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after greedy gain and took bribes and caused justice to turn aside.

1Sa 8:4

Then all^H3605 the elders^H2205 of Israel^H3478 gathered^H6908 together and came^H935 to Samuel^H8050 at Ramah^H7414;

1Sa 8:5

1Sa 8:5and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”

1Sa 8:6

1Sa 8:6But the thing was evil in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

1Sa 8:7

1Sa 8:7Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

1Sa 8:8

1Sa 8:8“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.

1Sa 8:9

1Sa 8:9“So now, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly [fn]testify to them and tell them of the [fn]custom of the king who will reign over them.”

The People Refuse Samuel’s Words

1Sa 8:10

So Samuel^H8050 spoke^H559 all^H3605 the words^H1697 of Yahweh^H3068 to the people^H5971 who had asked^H7592 of him a king^H4428.

1Sa 8:11

1Sa 8:11And he said, “This will be the [fn]custom of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.

1Sa 8:12

1Sa 8:12“And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to [fn]do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

1Sa 8:13

1Sa 8:13“He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers.

1Sa 8:14

1Sa 8:14“He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his [fn]servants.

1Sa 8:15

1Sa 8:15“He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.

1Sa 8:16

1Sa 8:16“He will also take your male slaves and your female slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and [fn]use them for his work.

1Sa 8:17

1Sa 8:17“He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

1Sa 8:18

1Sa 8:18“Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”

1Sa 8:19

Nevertheless, the people^H5971 refused^H3985 to listen^H8085 to the voice^H6963 of Samuel^H8050, and they said^H559, “No^H3808, but there shall be a king^H4428 over^H5921 us,

1Sa 8:20

1Sa 8:20that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

1Sa 8:21

1Sa 8:21So Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of Yahweh.

1Sa 8:22

1Sa 8:22Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and [fn]appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”