1 Samuel 8 — MSB
8Verse 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.Verse 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.Verse 3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.Verse 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.Verse 5“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.”Verse 6But 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.Verse 7And 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.Verse 8Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.Verse 9Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”Verse 10So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.Verse 11He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.Verse 12He 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 equipment for his chariots.Verse 13And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.Verse 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.Verse 15He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.Verse 16And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.Verse 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.Verse 18When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”Verse 19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.Verse 20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”Verse 21Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.Verse 22“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.”