1Now it happened that when Samuel had grown old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5They said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.”
6But the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
7And Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for it is not you they have rejected, but it is me they have rejected from reigning over them.
8Just as all the deeds they have done since the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day—forsaking me and serving other gods—so they are doing also to you.
9So now, listen to their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them, and tell them the custom of the king who will reign over them.”
10And Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking of him a king.
11He said, “This will be the custom of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariot and for his horsemen, and they will run before his chariot.
12And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his plowing and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariotry.
13And he will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and give them to his servants.
15He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards, and give it to his officials and his servants.
16He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work.
17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.
18On that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but Yahweh will not answer you on that day.”
19But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No! Rather, a king shall be over us,
20so that we too may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
21Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.
22And Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and make a king for them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each to his city.”
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