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1 Samuel 8
1599 Geneva Bible
1 Samuel 8
1599 Geneva Bible
8 1 Samuel maketh his sons Judges over Israel, who follow not his steps. 5 The Israelites ask a King. 11 Samuel declareth in what state they should be under the King. 19 Notwithstanding, they ask one still, and the Lord willeth Samuel to grant unto them.
1 When Samuel was now become old, he [a]made his sons Judges over Israel,
2 (And the name of his eldest son was [b]Joel, and the name of the second Abijah) even Judges in Beersheba.
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and (A)took rewards, and perverted the judgment.
4 ¶ Wherefore all the Elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel unto [c]Ramah,
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: (B)make us now a King to judge us like all nations.
6 But the thing [d]displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a King to judge us: and Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hear the voice of the people in all that they shall say unto thee: for they have not cast thee away, but they have cast me away, that I should not reign over them.
8 As they have ever done since I brought them out of Egypt even unto this day, (and have forsaken me, and served other gods) even so do they unto thee.
9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit, yet [e]testify unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10 ¶ So Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked a king of him.
11 And he said, This shall be the [f]manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them to his chariots, and to be his horsemen, and some shall run before his chariot.
12 Also he will make them his captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make instruments of war, and the things that serve for his chariots.
13 He will also take your daughters and make them Apothecaries, and Cooks, and Bakers.
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best Olive trees, and give them to his servants.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give it to his [g]Eunuchs, and to his servants.
16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and the chief of your young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep, and ye shall be his servants.
18 And ye shall cry out at that day, because of your king, whom ye have chosen you, and the Lord will not [h]hear you at that day.
19 But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.
20 And we also will be like all other nations, and our king shall judge us, and go out before us and fight our battles.
21 Therefore when Samuel heard all the words of the people, he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.
22 And the Lord said to Samuel, [i]Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go every man unto his city.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 8:1 Because he was not able to bear the charge.
- 1 Samuel 8:2 Who was also called Vasheni, 1 Chron. 6:28.
- 1 Samuel 8:4 For there his house was, 1 Sam. 7:17.
- 1 Samuel 8:6 Because they were not content with the order that God had appointed, but would be governed as were the Gentiles.
- 1 Samuel 8:9 To prove if they will forsake their wicked purpose.
- 1 Samuel 8:11 Not that kings have this authority by their office, but that such as reign in God’s wrath should usurp this over their brethren, contrary to the law, Deut. 17:20.
- 1 Samuel 8:15 Or, chief officers.
- 1 Samuel 8:18 Because ye repent not for your sins, but because ye smart for your afflictions, whereinto ye cast yourselves willingly.
- 1 Samuel 8:22 Or, grant their request.
1 Samuel 8
New International Version
1 Samuel 8
New International Version
Israel Asks for a King
8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed(A) his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,(B) and they served at Beersheba.(C) 3 But his sons(D) did not follow his ways. They turned aside(E) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes(F) and perverted(G) justice.
4 So all the elders(H) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(I) 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(J) to lead[b](K) us, such as all the other nations(L) have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king(M) to lead us,” this displeased(N) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen(O) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(P) but they have rejected me as their king.(Q) 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(R) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(S) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
10 Samuel told(T) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take(U) your sons and make them serve(V) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(W) 12 Some he will assign to be commanders(X) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your(Y) fields and vineyards(Z) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.(AA) 15 He will take a tenth(AB) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer(AC) you in that day.(AD)”
19 But the people refused(AE) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want(AF) a king(AG) over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,(AH) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated(AI) it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen(AJ) to them and give them a king.”
Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 8:1 Traditionally judges
- 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
- 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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