Israel Asks for a King

Psalm 118:9 NIV - Anglicised

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

1 Samuel 8:4 NIV - Anglicised

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

1 Samuel 8:5 NIV - Anglicised

They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

1 Samuel 8:6 NIV - Anglicised

But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.

1 Samuel 8:7 NIV - Anglicised

And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

1 Samuel 8:8 NIV - Anglicised

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.

1 Samuel 8:9 NIV - Anglicised

Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.”

1 Samuel 8:10 NIV - Anglicised

Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.

1 Samuel 8:11 NIV - Anglicised

He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.

1 Samuel 8:12 NIV - Anglicised

Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

1 Samuel 8:13 NIV - Anglicised

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

1 Samuel 8:14 NIV - Anglicised

He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.

1 Samuel 8:15 NIV - Anglicised

He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.

1 Samuel 8:16 NIV - Anglicised

Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.

1 Samuel 8:17 NIV - Anglicised

He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

1 Samuel 8:18 NIV - Anglicised

When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

1 Samuel 8:19 NIV - Anglicised

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.

1 Samuel 8:20 NIV - Anglicised

Then we shall be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”