1 Samuel 8 - Introduction

1 By occasion of the ill gouernment of Samuels sonnes, the Israelites aske a King.

6 Samuel praying in griefe is comforted by God.

10 Hee telleth the manner of a King.

19 God willeth Samuel to yeeld vnto the importunitie of the people.

1 And it came to passe, when Samuel was old, that he made his sonnes Iudges ouer Israel.

2 Now the name of his first borne was Ioel, and the name of his second, Abiah: they were Iudges in Beer-sheba.

3 And his sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and [Note: Deuteronomy 16:19.] tooke bribes, & peruerted iudgement.

4 Then all the Elders of Israel gathered themselues together, and came to Samuel vnto Ramah,

5 And said vnto him, Behold, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: now [Note: Hosea 13:10 Acts 13:21.] make vs a King to iudge vs, like all the nations.

6 But the thing [Note: Hebrew: was euill in the eyes of Samuel.] displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord.

7 And the Lord said vnto Samuel,

[A king described.]

Hearken vnto the voyce of the people in all that they say vnto thee: for they haue not reiected thee, but they haue reiected mee, that I should not reigne ouer them.

8 According to all the works which they haue done since the day that I brought them vp out of Egypt euen vnto this day, wherewith they haue forsaken me, and serued other gods: so doe they also vnto thee.

9 Nowe therefore [Note: Or, obey.] hearken vnto their voyce: [Note: Or, notwithstanding, when thou hast solemnly protested against them, then thou shalt shew, etc.] howbeit, yet protest solemnly vnto them, and shew them the maner of the King that shall reigne ouer them.

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord vnto the people, that asked of him a King.

11 And hee sayd, This will be the maner of the king that shall reigne ouer you: Hee will take your sonnes, and appoint them for himselfe for his charets, and to bee his horsemen, and some shall runne before his charets.

12 And hee will appoint him Captaines ouer thousands, and captaines ouer fifties, and will set them to eare his ground, and to reape his haruest, and to make his instruments of warre, and instruments of his charets.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cookes, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliue-yards, euen the best of them, and giue them to his seruants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and giue to his [Note: Hebrew: Eunuches.] officers, and to his seruants.

16 And hee will take your men seruants, and your mayd seruants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his worke.

17 Hee will take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day, because of your king which ye shall haue chosen you; and the Lord will not heare you in that day.

19 Neuerthelesse, the people refused to obey the voyce of Samuel; and they said, Nay, but we will haue a King ouer vs:

20 That we also may be like all the nations, and that our King may iudge vs, and goe out before vs, and fight our battels.

[Saul seeking asses, is by Samuel anointed king.]

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the eares of the Lord.

22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken vnto their voyce, and make them a King. And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel, Goe yee euery man vnto his citie.