> [[1-samuel-07|← Previous]] | [[1-samuel-00|TOC]] | [[1-samuel-09|Next →]] --- # 1 Samuel, Chapter 8 ## Chapter 8 **Request for a King.** 1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel. ^1-samuel-08-1 2 His firstborn was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba. ^1-samuel-08-2 3 His sons did not follow his example, but looked to their own gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice. ^1-samuel-08-3 4 Therefore all the elders of Israel assembled and went to Samuel at Ramah ^1-samuel-08-4 5 and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, like all the nations, to rule us.” ^1-samuel-08-5 6 Samuel was displeased when they said, “Give us a king to rule us.” But he prayed to the LORD. ^1-samuel-08-6 7 The LORD said: Listen to whatever the people say. You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king. ^1-samuel-08-7 8 They are acting toward you just as they have acted from the day I brought them up from Egypt to this very day, deserting me to serve other gods. ^1-samuel-08-8 9 Now listen to them; but at the same time, give them a solemn warning and inform them of the rights of the king who will rule them. ^1-samuel-08-9 **The Governance of the King.** 10 Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king. ^1-samuel-08-10 11 He told them: “The governance of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot. ^1-samuel-08-11 12 He will appoint from among them his commanders of thousands and of hundreds. He will make them do his plowing and harvesting and produce his weapons of war and chariotry. ^1-samuel-08-12 13 He will use your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ^1-samuel-08-13 14 He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his servants. ^1-samuel-08-14 15 He will tithe your crops and grape harvests to give to his officials and his servants. ^1-samuel-08-15 16 He will take your male and female slaves, as well as your best oxen and donkeys, and use them to do his work. ^1-samuel-08-16 17 He will also tithe your flocks. As for you, you will become his slaves. ^1-samuel-08-17 18 On that day you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.” ^1-samuel-08-18 **Persistent Demand.** 19 The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “No! There must be a king over us. ^1-samuel-08-19 20 We too must be like all the nations, with a king to rule us, lead us in warfare, and fight our battles.” ^1-samuel-08-20 21 Samuel listened to all the concerns of the people and then repeated them to the LORD. ^1-samuel-08-21 22 The LORD said: Listen to them! Appoint a king to rule over them. Then Samuel said to the people of Israel, “Return, each one of you, to your own city.” ^1-samuel-08-22 \* (8:1] – [22) From this chapter on, the editors of 1 Samuel provide two and sometimes three perspectives on the same event: e.g., the selection of Saul as king is recounted in chap. [8]; [10:17] – [24]; chap. [12]. \* (8:15) Officials: lit., eunuchs. These high-ranking administrators were not necessarily emasculated. \* (8:22) To your own city: Samuel will later reassemble the people at Mizpah ([10:17]) to acclaim Saul as their king. a. (8:1) [1 Chr 6:13]. b. (8:3) [1 Sm 2:12] – [17]; ([[exodus-23|Ex 23]]:8]; [Dt 16:19]; [Prv 17:23]. c. (8:5] – [6) [Dt 17:14] – [15]; [[hosea-13|Hos 13]]:10; ([[acts-of-the-apostles-13|Acts 13]]:21]. d. (8:7] – [8) [1 Sm 12:1], [12] – [13]; [Jgs 8:22] – [23]; [10:13]; [1 Kgs 9:9]. e. (8:11) [1 Sm 10:25]; [Dt 17:14] – [20]; [1 Kgs 12]. f. (8:12) [2 Sm 15:1]; [1 Kgs 1:5]. g. (8:14) [Dt 14:22] – [23]. h. (8:15) [1 Sm 22:7]; [[1-kings-21|1 Kgs 21]]:1 – [24]; [Ez 46:18]. i. (8:17) [[1-kings-12|1 Kgs 12]]:4. j. (8:19) [1 Sm 10:19]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[1-samuel-07|← Previous]] | [[1-samuel-00|TOC]] | [[1-samuel-09|Next →]]