A Nation Turns From Its King
Samuel's sons take bribes, so the elders ask for a king like the other nations. Our Father tells Samuel the rejection is of him, not of Samuel. Samuel spells out what a king will take, sons, daughters, fields, a tenth of everything, and the people still say yes.
8 1Now when Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2His firstborn son was Joel and his second was Abijah; they served as judges in Beersheba. 3His sons did not follow his ways but chased dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5They said to him, "You're old, and your sons don't follow your ways. Now appoint a king to rule us, like all the nations." 6Samuel was unhappy when they said, "Give us a king to govern us," and prayed to our Father.
7Then our Father told Samuel, "Listen to the people in all they say to you; they haven't rejected you; they've rejected me as their king. 8As, since I brought them from Egypt until today, they've abandoned me, serving other gods—so they treat you. 9Now listen to them, but warn them firmly and tell them how their king will rule."
Samuel Warns of the King's Ways
10So Samuel told the people asking him for a king all the words of our Father. 11He said, "This is what the king who reigns over you will do: he will take your sons for his chariots and horsemen, to run ahead of them. 12He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and others to make his weapons and chariot gear. 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants. 15He will take a tenth of your grain and vineyards, giving it to his officials and servants. 16He will take your male and female servants, best young men, and donkeys for his work. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but our Father will not answer you on that day."
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, "No! We want a king over us, 20so we can be like all the nations, with our king ruling us, leading us out, fighting our battles."
21When Samuel heard all the words of the people, he repeated them to our Father.
22Our Father said to Samuel, "Listen to them; give them a king." Samuel then said to Israel's men, "Go, each to your own town."
