1And it came to pass , when Samuel was old , that he made his sons judges over Israel . 2Now the name of his first-born was Joel ; and the name of his second , Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3And his sons walked not in his ways , but turned aside after lucre , and took bribes , and perverted justice . 4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together , and came to Samuel unto Ramah ; 5and they said unto him , Behold , thou art old , and thy sons walk not in thy ways : now make us a king to judge us like all the nations .
God's Warning about Kingship
6But the thing displeased Samuel , when they said , Give us a king to judge us . And Samuel prayed unto Jehovah . 7And Jehovah said unto Samuel , Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee ; for they have not rejected thee , but they have rejected me , that I should not be king over them . 8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day , in that they have forsaken me , and served other gods, so do they also unto thee . 9Now therefore hearken unto their voice : howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them , and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them .
The Consequences of Their Choice
10And Samuel told all the words of Jehovah unto the people that asked of him a king . 11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you : he will take your sons , and appoint them unto him , for his chariots , and to be his horsemen ; and they shall run before his chariots ; 12and he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties ; and he will set some to plow his ground , and to reap his harvest , and to make his instruments of war , and the instruments of his chariots . 13And he will take your daughters to be perfumers , and to be cooks , and to be bakers. 14And he will take your fields , and your vineyards , and your oliveyards , even the best of them , and give them to his servants . 15And he will take the tenth of your seed , and of your vineyards , and give to his officers , and to his servants . 16And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men , and your asses , and put them to his work . 17He will take the tenth of your flocks : and ye shall be his servants . 18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you ; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day . 19But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel ; and they said , Nay : but we will have a king over us , 20that we also may be like all the nations , and that our king may judge us , and go out before us , and fight our battles . 21And Samuel heard all the words of the people , and he rehearsed them in the ears of Jehovah . 22And Jehovah said to Samuel , Hearken unto their voice , and make them a king . And Samuel said unto the men of Israel , Go ye every man unto his city .