[1] When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. [2] The
name of his first-born son was Jo'el, and the name of his second, Abi'jah;
they were judges in Beer-sheba. [3] Yet his sons did not walk in his ways,
but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice. [4]
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at
Ramah, [5] and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk
in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations."
[6] But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to
govern us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. [7] And the LORD said to Samuel,
"Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they
have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
[8] According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I
brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving
other gods, so they are also doing to you. [9] Now then, hearken to their
voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the
king who shall reign over them." [10] So Samuel told all the words of the
LORD to the people who were asking a king from him. [11] He said, "These
will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your
sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run
before his chariots; [12] and he will appoint for himself commanders of
thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to
reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of
his chariots. [13] He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks
and bakers. [14] He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and
olive orchards and give them to his servants. [15] He will take the tenth
of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his
servants. [16] He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best
of your cattle and your asses, and put them to his work. [17] He will take
the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. [18] And in that day
you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves;
but the LORD will not answer you in that day." [19] But the people refused
to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No! but we will have a
king over us, [20] that we also may be like all the nations, and that our
king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles." [21] And
when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the
ears of the LORD. [22] And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to their
voice, and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go
every man to his city."
