Israel Demands a King (Deuteronomy 17:14–20)
1 DBY And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. BSB BSB: When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 DBY And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba. BSB BSB: The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 DBY And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice. BSB BSB: But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 DBY Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah, BSB BSB: So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 DBY and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations. BSB BSB: “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”
6 DBY And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah. BSB BSB: But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
7 DBY And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. BSB BSB: And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
8 DBY According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. BSB BSB: Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
9 DBY And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. BSB BSB: Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
Samuel’s Warning 10 DBY And Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king. BSB BSB: So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 DBY And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots; BSB BSB: He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.
12 DBY and he will take them that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots. BSB BSB: He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
13 DBY And he will take your daughters for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers. BSB BSB: And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 DBY And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best, will he take and give to his servants. BSB BSB: He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
15 DBY And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants. BSB BSB: He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
16 DBY And he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work. BSB BSB: And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
17 DBY He will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants. BSB BSB: He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 DBY And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day. BSB BSB: When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
God Grants the Request 19 DBY And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us, BSB BSB: Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20 DBY that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars. BSB BSB: Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
21 DBY And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah. BSB BSB: Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
22 DBY And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city. BSB BSB: “Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.