King James Version of the Bible

Book of 1 Samuel

Chapter 8

8:1

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

8:2

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

8:3

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

8:4

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

8:5

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

8:6

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

8:7

And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8:8

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

8:9

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

8:10

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

8:11

And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

8:12

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

8:13

And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

8:14

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

8:15

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

8:16

And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

8:17

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

8:18

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

8:19

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

8:20

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

8:21

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

8:22

And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.