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1 Samuel 8:4-22
Christian Standard Bible
1 Samuel 8:4-22
Christian Standard Bible
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.(A) 5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”(B)
6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord. 7 But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.(C) 8 They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me,[a] since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods. 9 Listen to them, but solemnly warn them(D) and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them.”
10 Samuel told all the Lord’s words to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots. 12 He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties,(E) to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots. 13 He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.(F) 15 He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants. 16 He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best cattle,[b] and your donkeys and use them for his work. 17 He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves,(G) but the Lord won’t answer you on that day.”(H)
19 The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. 20 Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us,(I) and fight our battles.”
21 Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to the Lord. 22 “Listen to them,” the Lord told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.”(J)
Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”
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1 Samuel 8:4-22
New International Version
1 Samuel 8:4-22
New International Version
4 So all the elders(A) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(B) 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(C) to lead[a](D) us, such as all the other nations(E) have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king(F) to lead us,” this displeased(G) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen(H) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(I) but they have rejected me as their king.(J) 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(K) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(L) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
10 Samuel told(M) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take(N) your sons and make them serve(O) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(P) 12 Some he will assign to be commanders(Q) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your(R) fields and vineyards(S) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.(T) 15 He will take a tenth(U) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer(V) you in that day.(W)”
19 But the people refused(X) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want(Y) a king(Z) over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,(AA) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated(AB) it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen(AC) to them and give them a king.”
Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
- 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men
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