1When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2His firstborn son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They served as judges in Beersheba.
3However, his sons did not follow his example; instead, they sought dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and twisted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered and came to Samuel in Ramah.
5They told him, "Look, you are old, and your sons are not following your ways. So now, appoint a king to judge us, just like all the other nations have."
6But Samuel was displeased when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." Samuel then prayed to Yahweh.
7Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to everything the people tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as their king.
8They are doing to you exactly what they have done ever since I brought them out of Egypt, even to this day—they have abandoned me and served other gods.
9So now, listen to what they say. However, you must warn them strongly and explain the ways of the king who will rule over them."
10Samuel told all of Yahweh's words to the people who were asking him for a king.
11He said, "This is how the king who rules over you will act: He will take your sons and assign them to his service, to manage his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they will run ahead of his chariots.
12He will appoint them as commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties. He will also force some to plow his fields and harvest his crops, and to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers."
14The king will take your fields, your vineyards, and your best olive groves and give them to his officials.
15He will take one-tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give it to his officers and his officials.
16He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys and make them work for him.
17He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you have chosen, but Yahweh will not answer you then.
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, "No! We want a king over us!
20Then we can be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us into battle, and fight for us."
21Samuel listened to everything the people said and then repeated it to Yahweh.
22Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel told the men of Israel, "Everyone go back to your own city."