1st Shamu'AL (1 Samuel) — 8

Yashar'AL Requests a King

1 As Shamu'AL grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Yashar'AL. 

2 Yual and Abiyah, his oldest sons, held court in Baarshaba. 

3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

4 Finally, all the elders of Yashar'AL met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Shamu'AL. 

5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

6 Shamu'AL was displeased with their request and went to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH for guidance. 

7 “And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to Shamu'AL, do everything they want, for they are rejecting me, not you. They do not want me to be their Ruler any longer. 

8 Ever since I brought them from Mitzraym they have continually abandoned me and followed other nations pagan deities. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 

9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”

Shamu'AL Warns against a Kingdom

10 So Shamu'AL passed on the warning of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH to the people who were asking him for a king. 

11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Shamu'AL said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 

12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 

13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 

14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 

16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. 

17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 

18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will not help you.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Shamu'AL’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 

20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

21 So Shamu'AL repeated to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  what the people had said, 

22 and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Shamu'AL agreed and sent the people home.