Chapter 8
1 When Samuel was old , he made his sons judges over Israel .
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel , and the name of his second , Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways , but turned away after dishonest gain , took bribes , and perverted justice .
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah .
5 They said to him , " Behold , you are old , and your sons don’t walk in your ways . Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations ."
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said , " Give us a king to judge us ." Samuel prayed to Yahweh .
7 Yahweh said to Samuel , " Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you ; for they have not rejected you , but they have rejected me as the king over them .
8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day , in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you .
9 Now therefore , listen to their voice . However , you shall protest solemnly to them , and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them ."
10 Samuel told all Yahweh ’s words to the people who asked him for a king .
11 He said, " This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you : he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants , for his chariots and to be his horsemen ; and they will run before his chariots .
12 He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties ; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest ; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots .
13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers , to be cooks , and to be bakers.
14 He will take your fields , your vineyards , and your olive groves , even your best , and give them to his servants .
15 He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards , and give it to his officers and to his servants .
16 He will take your male servants , your female servants , your best young men , and your donkeys , and assign them to his own work .
17 He will take one tenth of your flocks ; and you will be his servants .
18 You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves ; and Yahweh 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 judge us , and go out before us , and fight our battles ."
21 Samuel heard all the words of the people , and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh .
22 Yahweh said to Samuel , " Listen to their voice , and make them a king ." Samuel said to the men of Israel , "Everyone go to your own city ."