The First Book of Samuel

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 8 -

(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

When Samuel was nowe become olde, he made his sonnes Iudges ouer Israel.

(And the name of his eldest sonne was Ioel, and the name of the second Abiah) euen Iudges in Beer-sheba.

And his sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and tooke rewards, and peruerted the iudgement.

Wherefore all the Elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel vnto Ramah,

And said vnto him, Beholde, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: make vs nowe a King to iudge vs like all nations.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord.

And the Lord said vnto Samuel, Heare the voyce of the people in all that they shall say vnto thee: for they haue not cast thee away, but they haue cast me away, that I should not reigne ouer the.

As they haue euer done since I brought them out of Egypt euen vnto this day, (and haue forsaken me, and serued other gods) euen so doe they vnto thee.

Nowe therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, and shewe them the maner of ye King that shall reigne ouer them.

Samuel’s Warning

So Samuel told all the wordes of the Lord vnto the people that asked a King of him.

And he saide, This shall be the maner of the King that shall reigne ouer you: he will take your sonnes, and appoint them to his charets, and to be his horsemen, and some shall runne before his charet.

Also he will make them his captaines ouer thousands, and captaines ouer fifties, and to eare his ground, and to reape his haruest, and to make instruments of warre, and the thinges that serue for his charets.

He will also take your daughters and make them apoticaries, and cookes, and bakers.

And he will take your fieldes, and your vineyardes, and your best Oliue trees, and giue them to his seruants.

And he will take the tenth of your seede, and of your vineyards, and giue it to his Eunuches, and to his seruants.

And he will take your men seruants, and your maide seruants, and the chiefe of your yong men, and your asses, and put them to his worke.

He will take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.

And ye shall crie out at that day, because of your King, whom ye haue chosen you, and the Lord will not heare you at that day.

God Grants the Request

But the people would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a King ouer vs.

And we also will be like all other nations, and our King shall iudge vs, and goe out before vs, and fight our battels.

Therefore when Samuel heard all ye wordes of ye people, he rehearsed the in ye eares of ye Lord.

And the Lord saide to Samuel, Hearken vnto their voyce, and make them a King. And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel, Goe euery man vnto his citie.

(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

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

The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.

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

Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them.”

Samuel’s Warning

Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for a king.

He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots.

He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.

He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.

He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.

He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.

He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.

He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

God Grants the Request

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

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.”

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

The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”