1 Samuel

¹When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to serve as judges over Israel.

²His firstborn was named Joel and his second son Abijah; they served as judges in Beersheba.

³But his sons did not follow his example. They were dishonest, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.

⁴So all the elders of Israel gathered and went to Samuel at Ramah.

⁵They said to him, 'You are old, and your sons are not following your ways. Appoint a king to govern us like all the other nations have.'

⁶Their request for a king displeased Samuel, so he prayed to the LORD.

⁷The LORD said to him, 'Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They have not rejected you — they have rejected me as their king.'

⁸'They are doing to you what they have always done to me ever since I brought them out of Egypt — abandoning me and serving other gods.'

⁹'So listen to them, but first give them a solemn warning and explain what a king will do to them.'

¹⁰Samuel told the people who were asking for a king everything the LORD had said.

¹¹He said, 'Here is what a king will do to you: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and some will run ahead of his chariots.'

¹²'He will appoint some as commanders of thousands and of fifties. He will use others to plow his fields, harvest his crops, and produce his weapons and chariot equipment.'

¹³'He will take your daughters to make perfumes, to cook, and to bake.'

¹⁴'He will seize your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials.'

¹⁵'He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage and give it to his court officials and servants.'

¹⁶'He will take your male and female servants, your finest cattle and donkeys, and put them to work for himself.'

¹⁷'He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.'

¹⁸'On that day you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you.'

¹⁹But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, 'No! We want a king over us'

²⁰'so that we can be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us into battle, and fight our battles.'

²¹Samuel listened to everything the people had to say and reported it all to the LORD.

²²The LORD told Samuel, 'Listen to them and give them a king.' Then Samuel told the men of Israel, 'Go home, every one of you.'