以色列人要求立王
1撒母耳在年老的时候立了他的儿子做以色列人的士师。 2他的长子是约珥，次子是亚比亚，他们在别示巴做士师。 3然而，他们没有效法自己的父亲，而是爱慕不义之财，贪赃枉法。
4于是，以色列的长老一起到拉玛去见撒母耳， 5说：“你年纪大了，你的儿子不效法你。现在求你为我们立一个王治理我们，像其他国家一样。” 6撒母耳听到他们要求立一个王治理他们，心中不悦，就向耶和华祷告。 7耶和华对撒母耳说：“你照他们所说的去做吧，因为他们不是拒绝你，而是拒绝我做他们的王。 8自从我把他们从埃及领出来以后，他们就常常背弃我，去供奉其他神明。现在，他们也这样对待你。 9你就照他们所求的去做吧！但你要警告他们，让他们知道将来王会怎样管辖他们。”
10撒母耳就把耶和华的话转告给那些请求他立王的民众，说： 11“将来管辖你们的王会征用你们的儿子做他的战车兵、骑兵，要他们跑在他的战车前面。 12他会派一些人做千夫长、五十夫长，一些人为他耕种田地、收割庄稼，一些人制造兵器和战车的装备。 13他会把你们的女儿带走，要她们给他造香膏、煮饭和烤饼。 14他会夺去你们最好的田地、葡萄园和橄榄园，送给他的臣仆。 15他会从你们的粮食和葡萄园的出产中收取十分之一，送给他的官员和臣仆。 16他会征用你们的仆婢及最好的牛8:16 “牛”有古卷作“青年”。和驴来为他效劳。 17他会拿去你们羊群的十分之一，并让你们做他的奴仆。 18将来你们会因所选之王的压迫而呼求耶和华，耶和华却不会垂听你们。”
19民众却不肯听从撒母耳的话。他们说：“不，我们想要一个王治理我们， 20这样我们就会像其他国家一样，有王来统治我们，率领我们，为我们作战。” 21撒母耳把这些人的话一五一十地告诉了耶和华。 22耶和华对撒母耳说：“照他们说的去为他们立一个王吧。”于是，撒母耳对以色列人说：“你们各人回自己的城去吧。”
1And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6¶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.8.6 displeased: Heb. was evil in the eyes of 7And the LORD said unto 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. 8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.8.9 hearken…: or, obey8.9 howbeit…: or, notwithstanding when thou hast solemnly protested against them then thou shalt
10¶ And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11And 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, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.8.15 officers: Heb. eunuchs 16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19¶ Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
