← Home
4 panes
Israel Demands a King

And it came about when Samuel was old that ahe appointed his sons as judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in aBeersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, atook bribes, and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at aRamah and said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now aappoint us a king to judge us and rule over us like all the other nations.” But their demand 1adispleased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge and rule over us.” So bSamuel prayed to the LORD. The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for athey have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 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 abandoned (rejected) Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. So now listen to their voice; aonly solemnly warn them and tell them bthe ways of the king who will reign over them.”

Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to athe people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “aThese will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: bhe will take your sons and appoint them for himself to his chariots and among his horsemen and cthey will run before his chariots. 12 aHe will appoint them for himself to be commanders over thousands and over fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 aHe will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves shall be his servants. 18 Then ayou will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but bthe LORD will not answer you on that day because you have rejected Him as King.”

19 Nevertheless, the people arefused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 aso that we too may be like all the nations around us, that our king may judge and govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Samuel had heard all the words of the people and arepeated them 1to the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, “aListen to their 1request and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each man to his own city.”

Israel Demands a King

And it came about when Samuel was old that ahe appointed his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in aBeersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and atook bribes and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at aRamah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now aappoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was 1adispleasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And bSamuel prayed to the LORD. The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for athey have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 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 godsso they are doing to you also. Now then, listen to their voice; ahowever, you shall solemnly 1warn them and tell them of bthe 2procedure of the king who will reign over them.”

Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to athe people who had asked of him a king. 11 He said, “aThis will be the 1procedure of the king who will reign over you: bhe will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and cthey will run before his chariots. 12 aHe will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to 1do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 aHe will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and 1use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then ayou will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but bthe LORD will not answer you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless, the people arefused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 athat we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, ahe repeated them in the LORDS hearing. 22 The LORD said to Samuel, “aListen to their voice and 1appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

Israel Demands a King

Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that ahe appointed his sons as judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in aBeersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they atook bribes and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at aRamah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now aappoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the matter was 1adispleasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And bSamuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because athey have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 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 abandoned Me and served other godsso they are doing to you as well. Now then, listen to their voice; ahowever, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of bthe 1practice of the king who will reign over them.”

Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to athe people who had asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “aThis will be the 1practice of the king who will reign over you: bhe will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and cthey will run before his chariots. 12 aHe will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to 1do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 aHe will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and 1use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then ayou will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but bthe LORD will not answer you on that day.”

19 Yet the people arefused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 aso that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, ahe 1repeated them in the LORDS hearing. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, “aListen to their voice and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”

Israel Tells Samuel to Appoint a King

And it happened when Samuel was old that ahe appointed his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in aBeersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after greedy gain and atook bribes and caused justice to turn aside.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at aRamah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now aappoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was aevil in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And bSamuel prayed to Yahweh. Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for athey have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 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 godsso they are doing to you also. So now, listen to their voice; ahowever, you shall solemnly 1testify to them and tell them of bthe 2custom of the king who will reign over them.”

The People Refuse Samuel’s Words

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of Yahweh to athe people who had asked of him a king. 11 And he said, “aThis will be the 1custom of the king who will reign over you: bhe will take your sons and appoint them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen, and cthey will run before his chariots. 12 aAnd he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to 1do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 aHe will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his 1servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will also take your male slaves and your female slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and 1use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 Then ayou will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but bYahweh will not answer you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless, the people arefused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 athat we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 So Samuel heard all the words of the people, and ahe repeated them in the hearing of Yahweh. 22 Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “aListen to their voice and 1appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

Ask