1 Samuel 8

And it happened, when Samuel had aged, that he appointed his sons judges of Israel.

And the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah, judges in Beersheba.

But his sons did not walk in his ways, for they turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took a bribe, and they turned aside justice. \*

And all of the elders of Israel gathered together, and they came to Samuel at Ramah.

And they said to him, “Behold, you yourself have aged, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us, like all of the nations.”

And the thing was bad in the eyes of Samuel when they said, “Give to us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to God. \*

And God said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people according to all that they have said to you. For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from reigning over them.

According to all of the deeds that they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt and to this day, that they have forsaken me and served other gods, thus they are doing also to you.

And now, listen to their voice, only that warning, you shall warn them and declare to them the custom of the king who will reign over them.” \*

And Samuel told all of the words of God to the people requesting a king from him.

And he said, “This will be the custom of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint {them} for himself in his chariot and among his horsemen, and they will run to the face of his chariot.

And {he will} appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and to plow his plowing, and to harvest his harvest, and to make the implements of his war and the implements of his chariot. \*

And he will take your daughters for perfumers and for cooks and for bakers.

And your fields and your vineyards and your olive trees, the best {ones}, he will take and give to his servants.

And your seeds and your vintages, he will tithe and give to his officials and to his servants. \*

And your {male} servants and your maidservants and your young men, the best {ones}, and your donkeys, he will take and use for his work.

Your flock, he will tithe, and you yourselves will be to him for servants.

And you will cry out on that day from to the face of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but God will not answer you on that day.” \*

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But surely a king will be over us.

And we ourselves shall also be like all of the nations. And our king shall judge us and go out to our face and fight our battles.” \*

And Samuel heard all of the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of God.

And God said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and you shall make a king reign over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, a man to his city.” \*