1 Samuel, Chapter 8:
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Verses from 1 Samuel, Chapter 8 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.
The Israelites want a king
- 1. When he grew old, Samuel appointed his sons as leaders of Israel.
- 2. His eldest son was called Joel; the second, Abijah. They were leaders in Beersheba.
- 3. But his sons did not walk in his ways. They became greedy, took bribes and perverted justice.
- 4. So all the authorities of Israel gathered together and went to speak to Samuel in Ramah.
- 5. And they said to him, “You are old, and your children do not walk in your ways; Now choose a king to lead us, like other nations.”
- 6. But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” it displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.
- 7. And the Lord answered him: “Give everything the people ask; It was not you they rejected; It was me they rejected as king.
- 8. Just as they did to me from the day I brought them out of Egypt until today, abandoning me and worshiping other gods, so they are doing to you.
- 9. Now attend to them; but warn them solemnly and tell them what rights the king who will govern them will claim.”
- 10. Samuel conveyed all the words of the Lord to the people, who were asking him for a king,
- 11. saying: “The king who will reign over you will claim this as his right: he will take your sons to serve him in his chariots and in his cavalry and to run in front of his chariots.
- 12. He will place some as commanders over a thousand and others as commanders over fifty. He will make them plow his land, harvest the harvest and make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
- 13. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks and bakers.
- 14. He will take from you the best of your crops, vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
- 15. He will take a tenth of the grain and grape harvest and give it to his officers and servants.
- 16. He will also take from you your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys for your private use.
- 17. And he will take from you a tenth of the flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
- 18. On that day you will cry out because of the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not hear you.”
- 19. However, the people refused to listen to Samuel and said, “No! We want to have a king.
- 20. We will be like all other nations; a king will rule us, and will go out before us to fight our battles.”
- 21. After he had heard everything the people said, Samuel repeated it before the Lord.
- 22. And the Lord answered, “Hear them and give them a king.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go back, each one to his own city.”
