1 Samuel 8 – NIV & BPH

New International Version

1 Samuel 8:1-22

Israel Asks for a King

1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.8:1 Traditionally judges 2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20 us, such as all the other nations have.”

6But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8As 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. 9Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

21When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

Bibelen på hverdagsdansk

1. Samuelsbog 8:1-22

Israels folk forlanger en konge

1Da Samuel blev gammel, satte han sine to sønner til at være dommere i Israel. 2Den ældste hed Joel, og den anden hed Abija. De havde deres dommersæde i Be’ersheba, 3men de var pengegriske og slet ikke som deres far. De tog imod bestikkelse og dømte uretfærdigt. 4Til sidst mødtes Israels ledere i Rama for at diskutere sagen med Samuel. 5„Hør her,” sagde de. „Du er blevet gammel, og dine sønner er ikke som dig. Giv os en konge, sådan som de andre folk har.” 6Samuel var oprørt over forslaget, og han gik til Herren for at spørge om råd. 7„Gør, som de siger,” svarede Herren. „Det er ikke dig, de forkaster, men mig, for de ønsker ikke længere mig som konge. 8Lige siden jeg førte dem ud af Egypten, har de forkastet mig og vendt sig til andre guder for at få hjælp, og nu behandler de dig på samme måde. 9Giv dem, hvad de beder om, men advar dem om, hvordan en konge vil behandle dem.”

10Da fortalte Samuel, hvad Herren havde sagt: 11„Siden I vil have en konge, skal I vide, hvordan konger behandler deres undersåtter. Kongen vil indkalde jeres sønner til sin hær. Nogle skal bemande hans stridsvogne, andre bliver ryttersoldater, og nogle må løbe foran hans kongelige vogne. 12Nogle af dem bliver anførere i hæren, mens andre bliver udskrevet til tvangsarbejde. Nogle bliver tvunget til at pløje og høste hans marker, andre til at lave våben og udstyr til de kongelige vogne. 13Kongen vil også tage jeres døtre og tvinge dem til at lave mad, bage brød og tilberede de salver, han smører sig ind i. 14Han vil tage jeres bedste marker og vingårde og olivenplantager og give dem til sine venner. 15Han vil tage en tiendedel af jeres høst og fordele den mellem folkene i sin inderkreds. 16Han vil gøre krav på jeres slaver og på jeres bedste okser og æsler til eget brug. 17Han vil forlange at få udleveret en tiendedel af jeres fåreflokke, og I kan ikke sætte jer op imod ham. 18Når I så engang beder om at bliver fri for den konge, I selv har forlangt at få, da er det for sent. Herren vil ikke høre jeres bøn.”

19Men folket nægtede at høre på Samuels advarsel. „Det er lige meget,” svarede de. „Vi vil have en konge. 20Vi vil ikke stå tilbage for vores nabolande. Vores konge skal regere landet og være vores anfører i krig.”

21Så fortalte Samuel Herren, hvad folket havde sagt, 22og Herren svarede: „Så gør, som de siger, og giv dem en konge.” Da gik Samuel med til ledernes forslag og sendte dem hjem.