1 Samuel 8

¹When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as 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 toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

⁴So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

⁵“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

⁶But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

⁷And the LORD 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 they have rejected Me as their king.

⁸Just 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.

⁹Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

¹⁰So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

¹¹He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.

¹²He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.