1
And it was that Samuel was··old, and he set his sons as judges for Israel.
2
And the name of his firstborn son was Joel; and the name of the second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.
3
And his sons walked not in his way, but inclined after gain, and took bribes, and distorted◦ judgment.*
4
And all the elders of Israel came··together, and they came to▵ Samuel unto Ramah
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and they said to▵ him, Behold, thou◦ art··old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now set over us a king to judge us, as all the nations.
6
And the word was··evil in the eyes of Samuel, when▵ they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto▵ Jehovah.
7
And Jehovah said unto▵ Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, as to all they say unto▵ thee; for◦ they have not rejected thee, but◦ they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
8
According··to all the deeds which they have done from the day that I brought· them ·up out··of Egypt, and even··to this day, and they have forsaken Me, and served other gods; so do they also to thee.
9
And now, obey their voice; only▵ testifying testify against◦ them, and tell them the judgment of the king who shall reign over them.
10
And Samuel said all the words of Jehovah unto▵ the people who asked of him a king.
11
And he said, These will be the rights* of the king that shall reign over you; he will take your sons, and appoint them for his chariots and for his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots.
12
And he will set them for himself, as commanders◦ of thousands and commanders◦ of fifties, and to plow his plowing, and to harvest his harvest, and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.
13
And he will take your daughters to be ointment··makers, and for cooks◦ and for bakers.
14
And he will take your fields and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, and give them to his servants.
15
And he will take a tithe of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.
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And he will take your menservants, and your handmaids, and your good young··men, and your donkeys, to do his work▵*.
17
He will take the tithe of your flocks, and you◦ shall be to him for servants.
18
And you shall cry out in that◦ day because of your king whom you shall have chosen for you; and Jehovah will not answer you on that◦ day.
19
And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but◦ there shall be a king over us,
20
and we◦ also may be as all the nations, and our king may judge us, and go··out before us, and fight our battles.
21
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of Jehovah.
22
And Jehovah said unto▵ Samuel, Hearken unto their voice and make a king to reign over them. And Samuel said unto▵ the men◦ of Israel, Go◦ ye every man◦ unto his city.
