1 W hen Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 N ow the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

3 H is sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 T hen all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.

5 T hey 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.”

6 B ut the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

7 Y ahweh 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.

8 A ccording 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.

9 N ow 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.”

10 S amuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king.

11 H e 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.

12 H e 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.

13 H e will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 H e will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even their best, and give them to his servants.

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

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

17 H e will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

18 Y ou will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”

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

20 t hat we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”

21 S amuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.

22 Y ahweh 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.”