1 When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. ISV — 1Samuel 8:1
2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. ISV — 1Samuel 8:2
3 His sons did not follow Samuel’s example. a8:3 Lit. not walk in his ways Instead, they pursued b8:3 Lit. turned after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. c8:3 Lit. caused justice to be turned aside ISV — 1Samuel 8:3
4 All the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah. ISV — 1Samuel 8:4
5 They told him, “Look, you’re old, and your sons don’t follow your example. d8:5 Lit. not walk in his ways So appoint a king to govern us like all the other e8:5 The Heb. lacks other nations.” ISV — 1Samuel 8:5
6 Samuel was displeased f8:6 Lit. the thing was bad in the eyes of when they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. ISV — 1Samuel 8:6
7 The LORD told Samuel, “Listen to the people g8:7 Lit. the voice of the people in all that they say to you. In fact, it’s not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king. ISV — 1Samuel 8:7
8 Like all the things they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this very day, they have forsaken me and followed other gods. They’re also doing the same thing to you. ISV — 1Samuel 8:8
9 Now, listen to them, but you are to clearly warn them and inform them about how the king who rules over them will operate.” h8:9 Lit. the practice of the king ISV — 1Samuel 8:9
10 Samuel reported everything the LORD told him to the people who were asking him for a king. ISV — 1Samuel 8:10
11 He said, “This is how the king who rules over you will operate: He will conscript your sons and assign them i8:11 Lit. them for himself to his chariots. He will conscript them j8:11 The Heb. lacks conscripting them as his horsemen, and they’ll run in front of his chariots. ISV — 1Samuel 8:11
12 He will appoint his officers over thousands and officers over fifties—some will plow his fields, k8:12 Lit. and to plow his plowing reap his harvest, and craft his war implements and equipment for his chariots. ISV — 1Samuel 8:12
13 He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ISV — 1Samuel 8:13
14 He will take the best products of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and give them to his servants. l 8:14 Or officials ISV — 1Samuel 8:14
15 He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his officers and servants. m8:15 Or officials ISV — 1Samuel 8:15
16 He will take your male and female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys to do his work. ISV — 1Samuel 8:16
17 He will take a tenth of your flock, and you will become his servants. ISV — 1Samuel 8:17
18 When all of this comes about, you will cry out because of your king whom you chose for yourselves, but the LORD won’t answer you at that time.” ISV — 1Samuel 8:18
19 The people refused to listen to Samuel. n8:19 Lit. to the voice of Samuel Instead, they insisted, “No! Let a king rule over us instead! ISV — 1Samuel 8:19
20 We, too, will be like all the nations! Our king will govern us and go out before us to fight our battles.” ISV — 1Samuel 8:20
21 So Samuel listened to all the words of the people, and he repeated them directly to o8:21 Lit. them in the ears of the LORD. ISV — 1Samuel 8:21
22 The LORD told Samuel, “Listen to them, and appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you go to his own town.” ISV — 1Samuel 8:22