CHAPTER 8
The name
of his firstborn
son
was
Joel,
and the name
of his second
was Abijah.
They were judges
in Beersheba.
But his sons
did not
walk
in his ways;
they turned aside
toward
dishonest gain,
accepted
bribes,
and perverted
justice.
“Look,”
they said,
“you
are old,
and your sons
do not
walk
in your ways.
Now
appoint
a king
to judge us
like all
the other nations.”
But when
they said,
“Give
us a king
to judge us,”
their demand
was displeasing
in the sight
of Samuel;
so he
prayed
to
the LORD.
And the LORD
said
to
Samuel,
“Listen
to the voice
of the people
in all
that
they say
to you,
for
it is not
you
they have rejected,
but
they have rejected
Me
as their king.
They
are doing
to you
just as
they have done
from the day
I brought them up
out of Egypt
until
this
day,
forsaking Me
and serving
other
gods.
Now
listen to them,
but
you must solemnly warn
them
and show
them
the manner
of the king
who
will reign
over them.”
He said,
“This
will be
the manner
of the king
who
will rule
over you:
He will take
your sons
and appoint them
to
his own chariots
and horses,
to run
in front of
his chariots.
He will appoint
some for himself
as commanders
of thousands
and of fifties,
and others to plow
his ground,
to reap
his harvest,
and to make
his weapons
of war
and equip
his chariots.
He will take
the best
of your fields
and
vineyards
and olive groves
and give
them to his servants.
And
he will take
your menservants
and
maidservants
and
your best
cattle
and donkeys
and put them
to his own use.
When that
day comes,
you will beg
for relief from
the king
you have chosen,
but the LORD
will not
answer you
on that
day.”
Nevertheless, the people
refused
to listen
to Samuel.
“No!”
they said.
“We must have
a king
over us.
Then we will
be
like all
the other nations,
with a king
to judge us,
to go out
before us,
and to fight
our battles.”
“Listen
to their voice,”
the LORD
said
to Samuel.
“Appoint a king
for them.”
Then Samuel
told
the men
of Israel,
“Everyone
must go back
to his city.”