1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel grew old [became aged], he appointed [made, set] his sons [children, descendants] as judges [rulers, leaders] over Israel [the people of God, Jacob’s descendants]. word study 2 The name [identity, character] of his firstborn [eldest, of highest rank] son was Joel [Jehovah is God], and the name [identity, character] of his second was Abijah [my father is the Lord]. They were judges [rulers, governing authorities] in Beersheba [well of the sevenfold oath, a city in Palestine]. word study 3 But his sons [not following their father’s example] did not walk [follow, live according to] in his ways [path, manner of life]; they turned aside [deviated, strayed] toward [after, in pursuit of] dishonest gain [unjust profit, lucre], accepting [taking, receiving] bribes [gifts to influence, rewards] and perverting [twisting, corrupting] justice [righteous judgment]. word study 4 So all [every single one] the elders [old, experienced, and respected leaders] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] gathered together [assembled, came together in unity] and came [approached, went to] to Samuel [Shemuel, a prophet and judge] at Ramah [a city in Palestine, a place of battle and refuge]. word study 5 “Look [behold, see now],” they said, “you [as an individual, personally] are old [have become aged, advanced in years], and your sons [children, descendants] do not walk [follow, live] in your ways [path, manner of life]. Now [at this time, presently] appoint [set, establish] a king [ruler, monarch] to judge [govern, vindicate] us like [similar to, in the same manner as] all [every, the whole] the other nations [Gentile countries, non-Hebrew peoples].” word study 6 But when they said, “Give us a king [to rule over us, a monarch] to judge us [to govern, vindicate, or punish],” their demand [request, plea] was displeasing [evil, afflicted] in the sight [eyes, gaze] of Samuel; so he prayed [interceded, made petition] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 7 And the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said to Samuel, “Listen [to hear and obey] to the voice [sound or utterance] of the people in all [everything] that they say [speak or declare] to you. For it is not you they have rejected [spurned or refused], but they have rejected [turned away from] Me as their king [ruler or sovereign]. word study 8 Just as they have done [from the first, since the day of their deliverance] from the day I brought them up [led them out, ascended with them] out of Egypt [the land of bondage, a place of slavery] until this day [the present time, this moment], forsaking [abandoning, turning away from] Me and serving [worshipping, giving allegiance to] other gods [foreign deities, idols], so they are doing [acting, behaving] to you [in a similar manner, in the same way]. word study 9 Now [at this time, currently] listen [hear and obey, give attention] to them, but you must solemnly [certainly, surely] warn [protest, testify] them and show [declare, tell] them the manner [custom, way] of the king [ruler, monarch] who will reign [rule, govern] over them [as their authority, with power].” word study 10 So Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet of Israel] spoke all the words [divine messages, Chronicles] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] to the people [a nation, Amaw] who were asking [seeking, inquiring] him for a king [a royal person, King’s authority]. word study 11 He said, “This [the manner, custom] will be the manner of the king [ruler, sovereign] who will reign [rule, have dominion] over you: He will take [seize, appoint] your sons [children, descendants] and appoint them to his own chariots [vehicles, war-carriages] and horses [cavalry, horsemen], to run [rush, move swiftly] in front of [before, preceding] his chariots [war-chariots, royal conveyances]. word study 12 He will appoint some for himself as [leaders, commanders] commanders of thousands [large groups, companies] and of fifties [smaller units], and others to [cultivate, work] plow his ground, to [gather, harvest] reap his harvest, to make his [instruments, weapons] weapons of war, and to equip [prepare] his chariots [vehicles, cavalry]. word study 13 And he will take [to seize, to get] your daughters [female children, women] to be [as, in the role of] perfumers [confectionaries, makers of perfumes], cooks [female cooks, food preparers], and bakers [bread-makers, those who bake]. word study 14 He will take [seize, acquire] the best [most pleasant, choice] of your fields [lands, territories] and vineyards [gardens, plots of land for cultivation] and olive groves [olive tree orchards] and give [assign, bestow] them to his servants [attendants, officials]. word study 15 He will take [to tithe] a tenth of your grain [seed, crops] and grape harvest [vineyards, produce] and give [allocate, distribute] it to his [high-ranking] officials [officers, eunuchs] and servants [slaves, attendants]. word study 16 And he will take your menservants [male servants, slaves] and maidservants [female slaves, servant-girls] and your best [most choice, goodliest] cattle and donkeys [asses] and put them to his own use [work, employment, for his own benefit]. word study 17 He will take a tenth [one tenth, to tithe] of your flocks [sheep, or goats], and you yourselves [as servants] will become his slaves [servants, bondmen, in a state of bondage]. word study 18 When that day [of reckoning, a time of distress] comes, you will beg [cry out, plead] for relief from the king [ruler, monarch] you have chosen [selected, appointed], but the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will not answer [respond, hear] you on that day [of trouble, a time of need].” word study 19 Nevertheless, the people [a nation, Israel] refused [to obey, said no] to listen [to hear and obey] to Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet]. “No [not, absolutely not]!” they said. “We must have [if we are to have, it is necessary that we have] a king [a royal ruler, a monarch] over us [as our leader, to rule us]. word study 20 Then we [also, even we] will be like all [every, the whole of] the other nations, with a king [ruler, monarch] to judge [govern, vindicate] us, to go out [come forth, lead] before us, and to fight [engage in battle, wage war] our battles [wars, conflicts].” word study 21 Samuel [Shemuel, the prophet] listened [to hear and obey] to all [everything, every word] the words [things, matters, or sayings] of the people [the nation, or a group of individuals] and repeated [rehearsed, spoke again] them in the hearing [in the presence, or ears] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 22 “Listen to their voice [hear and obey their request],” the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said to Samuel [Shemuel, a prophet and judge]. “Appoint [make, establish] a king [ruler, monarch] for them [as their leader].” Then Samuel told the men [individuals, people] of Israel [God’s chosen people], “Everyone [each person, every man] must go back [return, depart] to his city [town, place of residence].” word study