1 Samuel chapter 8 Israel demands a king

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

The name of his first born son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah.

They were judges in Bersheba.

Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain.

They took bribes and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and

came to Samuel at Rama and said to him, Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways.

Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said,

give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel,

obey the voice of the people, and all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you,

but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done

from the day I brought

them up out of Egypt, even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also

doing to you. Now then obey their voice. Only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways

of the king who shall reign over them. Samuel's warning against kings.

So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from

him.

He said these will be the ways of the king who will reign over you.

He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots, and to be his horsemen, and

to run before his chariots, and he will appoint for himself

commanders of thousands and commanders of 50s, and some to plow his ground, and to reap his

harvest, and to make his implements of war, and the equipment of his chariots.

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