1 Samuel 8:11-22 ▼

11 And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you?: Your? sons he will take and appoint to his own chariots and horses, and some will run before the face of his chariots.

12 And He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties also to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

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

14 And your? fields and your? vineyards and your? olive groves—the best ones—he will take and give to his servants.

15 And your? grain and your? vintage, He will take a tenth and give it to his officers and servants.

16 And your? menservants, and your? maidservants, and your? best cattle, and your? donkeys, he will take and put to his work.

17 He will take a tenth of your? flock, and you? will be his slaves.

18 And you? will cry out in that day because of your? king whom you? have chosen for yourselves, and YHWH will not answer you? in that day.”

19 And the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but surely we will have a king over us,

20 that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

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

22 And YHWH said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint to them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”