8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his
sons judges over Israel.
8:2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his
second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba.
8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after
lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
8:4 Then all the elders of Israel assembled, and came to Samuel
to Ramah,
8:5 And said to him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not
in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the
nations.
8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a
king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the LORD.
8:7 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the
people in all that they say to thee: for they have not rejected
thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over
them.
8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the
day that I brought them out of Egypt even to this day, by which
they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also
to thee.
8:9 Now therefore hearken to their voice: yet protest solemnly
to them, and show them the manner of the king that will reign
over them.
8:10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people
that asked of him a king.
8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall
reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for
himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some]
will run before his chariots.
8:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and
captains over fifties; and [will set them] to till his ground,
and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war,
and instruments of his chariots.
8:13 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectioneries,
and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.
8:14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your
olive-yards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his
servants.
8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your
vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
8:16 And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants,
and your most choice young men, and your asses, and put [them]
to his work.
8:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye will be his
servants.
8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which
ye shall have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not hear
you in that day.
8:19 Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of
Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;
8:20 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.
8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he
rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
8:22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and
make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye
every man to his city.
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