The Lantern

I Samuel8

Israel Demands a King

And it was, when Samuel grew old, that he set his sons as judges for Israel.

And the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second Abijah — judges in Beersheba.

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after gain, and took bribes, and bent justice.

And all the elders of Israel gathered themselves and came to Samuel at Ramah.

And they said to him: “Look — you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now set for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.”

And the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD.

And 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; it is me they have rejected from reigning over them.

Like all the deeds they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt to this day — they forsook me and served other gods — so they are doing to you as well.

And now, listen to their voice. Only you shall solemnly warn them, and tell them the custom of the king who will reign over them.”

Samuel’s Warning

And Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking a king from him.

And he said: “This will be the custom of the king who will reign over you: your sons he will take, and set them for himself with his chariot and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariot;

and he will set for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties; and they will plow his plowing and reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.

And your daughters he will take as perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.

And your fields, and your vineyards, and your good olive groves he will take — and give them to his servants.

And your grain and your vineyards he will tithe — and give it to his officers and to his servants.

And your male servants, and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys he will take — and use them for his own work.

Your flock he will tithe. And you — you will become his servants.

And you will cry out on that day because of your king, whom you chose for yourselves — and the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

God Grants the Request

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said: “No — but a king shall be over us.

And we too will be like all the nations; and our king will judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of the LORD.

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make a king reign for them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each to his city.”