Israel Demands a King (Deuteronomy 17:14–20)
1 ULT And it happened, when Samuel had aged, that he appointed his sons judges of Israel. BSB BSB: When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 ULT And the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah, 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 ULT But his sons did not walk in his ways, for they turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took a bribe, and they turned aside justice. BSB BSB: But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 ULT And all of the elders of Israel gathered together, and they came to Samuel at Ramah. BSB BSB: So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 ULT And they said to him,“Behold, you yourself have aged, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us, like all of 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 ULT And the thing was bad in the eyes of Samuel when they said,“Give to 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 ULT And Yahweh said to Samuel,“Listen to the voice of the people according to all that they have said to you. For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from reigning 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 ULT According to all of the deeds that they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt and to this day, that they have forsaken me and served other gods, thus they are doing also 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 ULT And now, listen to their voice, only that warning, you shall warn them and declare to them the custom of the king who will 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 ULT And Samuel told all of the words of Yahweh to the people requesting a king from him. BSB BSB: So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 ULT And he said,“This will be the custom of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint{ them} for himself in his chariot and among his horsemen, and they will run to the face of his chariot. 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 ULT And{ he will} appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and to plow his plowing, and to harvest his harvest, and to make the implements of his war and the implements of his chariot. 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 ULT And he will take your daughters for perfumers and for cooks and for bakers. BSB BSB: And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 ULT And your fields and your vineyards and your olive trees, the best{ ones}, he will 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 ULT And your seeds and your vintages, he will tithe and give to his officials 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 ULT And your{ male} servants and your maidservants and your young men, the best{ ones}, and your donkeys, he will take and use 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 ULT Your flock, he will tithe, and you yourselves will be to him for servants. BSB BSB: He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 ULT And you will cry out on that day from to the face 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 ULT But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel. And they said,“No! But surely a king will be over us. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20 ULT And we ourselves shall also be like all of the nations. And our king shall judge us and go out to our face 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 ULT And Samuel heard all of the words of the people, and he spoke 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 ULT And Yahweh said to Samuel,“Listen to their voice, and you shall make a king reign over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel,“Go, a 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.