Israel Demands a King (Deuteronomy 17:14–20)
1 UEB When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. BSB BSB: When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 UEB The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. BSB BSB: The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 UEB His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They 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 UEB Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. BSB BSB: So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 UEB They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for 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 UEB But it displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 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 UEB Yahweh said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king 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 UEB They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and so they are also doing to you. 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 UEB Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule 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 UEB So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king. BSB BSB: So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 UEB He said, "This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to 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 UEB He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for 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 UEB He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. BSB BSB: And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 UEB He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them 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 UEB He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants. BSB BSB: He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
16 UEB He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him. BSB BSB: And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
17 UEB He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. BSB BSB: He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 UEB Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on 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 UEB But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, "No! There must 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 UEB so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 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 UEB When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh. BSB BSB: Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
22 UEB Yahweh said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man must go to his own 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.