Israel Tells Samuel to Appoint a King

1And it happened when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. 3But his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after greedy gain and took bribes and caused justice to turn aside.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” 6But the thing was evil in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 7Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9So now, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly [†]testify to them and tell them of the [†]custom of the king who will reign over them.”

The People Refuse Samuel’s Words

10So Samuel spoke all the words of Yahweh to the people who had asked of him a king. 11And 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 chariots and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. 12And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to [†]do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his [†]servants. 15He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16He will also take your male slaves and your female slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and [†]use them for his work. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”

19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21So Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of Yahweh. 22Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and [†]appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”