1 And it came about when Samuel was old that ADeut 16:18, 19he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in AGen 22:19; 1 Kin 19:3; Amos 5:5Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and AEx 23:6, 8; Deut 16:19took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at A1 Sam 7:17Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now ADeut 17:14, 15appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing was 1Or evilA1 Sam 12:17displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And B1 Sam 15:11Samuel prayed to the Loʀᴅ. 7 The Loʀᴅ said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for AEx 16:8; 1 Sam 10:19they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8  “Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9  “Now then, listen to their voice; AEzek 3:18however, you shall solemnly 1Lit testify towarn them and tell them of B1 Sam 8:11-18; 10:25the 2Lit customprocedure of the king who will reign over them.”

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Loʀᴅ to A1 Sam 8:4the people who had asked of him a king. 11 He said, “ADeut 17:14-20; 1 Sam 10:25This will be the 1Lit customprocedure of the king who will reign over you: B1 Sam 14:52he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and C2 Sam 15:1they will run before his chariots. 12  “ANum 31:14; 1 Sam 22:7He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to 1Lit plow his plowingdo his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13  “He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14  “A1 Kin 21:7; Ezek 46:18He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15  “He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16  “He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and 1Lit makeuse them for his work. 17  “He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18  “Then AIs 8:21you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but BProv 1:25-28; Is 1:15; Mic 3:4the Loʀᴅ will not answer you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless, the people AIs 66:4; Jer 44:16refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 A1 Sam 8:5that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, AJudg 11:11he repeated them in the Loʀᴅ’s hearing. 22 The Loʀᴅ said to Samuel, “A1 Sam 8:7Listen to their voice and 1Lit cause a king to reign for themappoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”