1 Samuel 8
22 verses
In Samuel's old age, the people demand a king ('to judge us like all other nations,' 8:5)—a request that Samuel interprets as a rejection of the LORD's direct kingship ('They have rejected me as their king,' 8:7) and which the LORD grants while warning of the consequences: a king will conscript sons as soldiers, daughters as servants, levy taxes, and appropriate property (8:11-18), establishing a human monarchy that replicates and mirrors the rule of the pagan nations. Samuel's warning is precisely the inverse of covenantal kingship: where a theocratic ruler would govern by the LORD's word and statute, a human king will establish his own will and dominion, leading to servitude and loss. Yet the people insist: 'We want a king over us...then we shall be like all other nations' (8:19-20), prioritizing conformity to pagan norms over covenantal uniqueness, and the LORD authorizes Samuel to grant their request. The chapter introduces the central tension of 1 Samuel: Israel's desire for human kingship stands in fundamental tension with the theocratic covenant, and though the LORD will provide a king 'after his own heart' (David), the trajectory toward monarchy represents a compromise of Israel's covenantal identity.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
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2
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer–sheba.
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3
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
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4
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
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5
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
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6
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
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7
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
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8
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
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9
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
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10
And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.
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11
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
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12
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
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13
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
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14
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
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15
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
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16
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
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17
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
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18
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.
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19
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
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20
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
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21
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.
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22
And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
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