Israel Demands a King (Deuteronomy 17:14–20)
1 UST When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons to lead the people of Israel. BSB BSB: When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 UST Samuel had two sons. Joel was his older son and Abijah was his younger son. They settled people’ s disputes in the town of 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 UST But Joel and Abijah were not honest like their father. They only wanted to get a lot of money. They accepted bribes, and they did not make honest decisions about people’ s disputes. BSB BSB: But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 UST Finally, the Israelite leaders met in the town of Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. BSB BSB: So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 UST The leaders said to Samuel,“Now listen! You are now old, and your sons are not honest like you. So give us a king to rule over us, like the kings that other countries have!” 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 UST Samuel thought it was wrong for them to ask him to give them a king to rule them. So he prayed to Yahweh about it. 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 UST Yahweh answered him,“Do everything that these leaders have asked you to do. But recognize that by asking for a king, they are not really refusing to have your family continue to lead them. They are actually refusing to have me continue to be their king. 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 UST This is just like what they have been doing ever since I brought them out of Egypt. They have rejected me and worshiped other gods. Now they are also rejecting you in the same way. 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 UST So this is what I want you to do. Appoint a king for them as they have asked. But warn them clearly and explain to them what privileges this king will claim for himself!” 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 UST So Samuel told the Israelite leaders who were asking him for a king what Yahweh had told him. BSB BSB: So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 UST He said,“If a king rules over you, this is what he will do to you. He will force many of your sons to serve in his army as chariot drivers or as soldiers on horseback. He will make a large group of your sons run in front 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 UST He will make some of your sons officers who will command groups of a thousand soldiers or groups of fifty soldiers. But he will force others to plow his fields and then later harvest his crops. He will force still others to make military weapons and 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 UST The king will also make some of your daughters work for him. They will have to make perfumes and cook food and bake bread for him. BSB BSB: And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 UST He will seize your best fields and vineyards and olive groves so that he can give them to his attendants. BSB BSB: He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
15 UST The king will take one tenth of the grain and wine that you produce and distribute it among his own officers and attendants. BSB BSB: He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
16 UST He will also claim your best male and female servants and the strong young men in your household and make them work for him. He will also take your donkeys and use them to carry loads 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 UST He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. It will be as if you are his slaves. BSB BSB: He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 UST When all of this happens, you will complain loudly about the king whom you yourselves have chosen. But when that happens, Yahweh will make you keep serving the king you are complaining about.” 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 UST But despite everything Samuel told them, the people stubbornly insisted that they did not want any ruler other than a king. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20 UST They told him,“We want to be like the other nations. We want a king to rule us and to lead our soldiers to fight against our enemies.” 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 UST When Samuel heard everything that the people had said, he repeated it to Yahweh for him to hear. BSB BSB: Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
22 UST Yahweh answered him,“Do what they are asking you to do. Appoint someone to be their king.” So Samuel told the Israelite elders that they could all go home, because he would arrange for them to have a king. 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.