1 Samuel 8

₁When Samuel was old, he chose his sons and made them judges over the Israelites. ₂The name of his oldest son was Joel and his 2nd son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. ₃But Samuel's sons were not like their father. They always wanted to get money. They stole money and they took bribe money and they cheated. They were bad judges. ₄The leaders_of_Israel came together and they went to Samuel in the town of Ramah ₅and said to him: ‘You are old and your sons do not live as you do. You must now choose a king to rule over us. We want a king like all the other nations have.’

₆Samuel was upset when the leaders asked to have a king to rule over them. So Samuel prayed to the Lord. ₇The Lord said to Samuel: ‘You must do what the people want because it is not you that they do not want. It is Me they do not want. They do not want Me to be their King. ₈They have done this from the time that I saved them out of Egypt until today. They left Me and served other gods. And now they do the same to you. ₉Now listen to them and do what they ask. But first you must warn them so that they understand. Tell them what the king who will rule over them may do.’

₁₀The people wanted a king and Samuel told them everything that the Lord said to him. ₁₁He said: ‘The king who will rule over you may do many things: He will take your sons and he will tell them to ride his war-chariots and horses or tell them to run in front of his war-chariot. ₁₂He will take some of your sons and make them his officers. Some will lead 1 000 men and some will lead 50 men. He will also take some of your sons and make them plough his fields and sow or cut off his wheat or make weapons or the things that he uses for his war-chariot. ₁₃He will take your daughters to make perfume or to bake or cook food for him. ₁₄He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive trees and he will give them to his servants. ₁₅He will take one 10th of your grain and your grapes and he will give it to his officers and his servants. ₁₆He will take your servants, men and women, and your best cattle and donkeys and he will use them to work for him. ₁₇He will take one 10th of your sheep and goats and you will be his servants. ₁₈On that day you will call for God to help you because of your king that you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you.’

₁₉But the people did not want to listen to Samuel. They said: ‘No, we want to have a king. ₂₀We want to be like the other nations. Our king must judge us and he must lead us when we must fight our wars.’

₂₁Samuel listened to what the people said and he told the Lord. ₂₂Then the Lord said to Samuel: ‘You must do what they ask. You must choose a king for them.’ Samuel then said to the leaders_of_Israel: ‘You must all go back to your homes.’