8When Samuel got to be an old man, he set his sons up as judges in Israel.H8050H2204H7760H1121H8199H34782His firstborn son was named Joel, the name of his second, Abijah. They were assigned duty in Beersheba.H8034H1121H1060H3100H8034H4932H29H8199H8843But his sons didn't take after him; they were out for what they could get for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice.H1121H1980H1870H5186H310H1215H3947H7810H5186H49414Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah.H2205H3478H6908H935H8050H74145They presented their case: "Look, you're an old man, and your sons aren't following in your footsteps. Here's what we want you to do: Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else."H559H2204H1121H1980H1870H7760H4428H8199H14716When Samuel heard their demand—"Give us a king to rule us!"—he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to GOD.H1697H3415H5869H8050H559H5414H4428H8199H8050H6419H30687GOD answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King.H3068H559H8050H8085H6963H5971H559H3988H3988H44278From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you.H4639H6213H3117H5927H4714H3117H5800H5647H312H430H62139So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they're likely to get from a king."H8085H6963H389H5749H5749H5046H4941H4428H442710So Samuel told them, delivered GOD's warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king.H8050H559H1697H3068H5971H7592H442811He said, "This is the way the kind of king you're talking about operates. He'll take your sons and make soldiers of them—chariotry, cavalry, infantry,H559H4941H4428H4427H3947H1121H7760H4818H6571H7323H6440H481812regimented in battalions and squadrons. He'll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury.H7760H8269H505H8269H2572H2790H2758H7114H7105H6213H3627H4421H3627H739313He'll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks.H3947H1323H7548H2879H64414He'll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends.H3947H7704H3754H2132H2896H5414H565015He'll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy.H6237H2233H3754H5414H5631H565016Your prize workers and best animals he'll take for his own use.H3947H5650H8198H2896H970H2543H6213H439917He'll lay a tax on your flocks and you'll end up no better than slaves.H6237H6629H565018The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don't expect GOD to answer."H2199H3117H6440H4428H977H3068H6030H311719But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us!H5971H3985H8085H6963H8050H559H442820Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles."H1471H4428H8199H3318H6440H3898H442121Samuel took in what they said and rehearsed it with GOD.H8050H8085H1697H5971H1696H241H306822GOD told Samuel, "Do what they say. Make them a king." Then Samuel dismissed the men of Israel: "Go home, each of you to your own city."H3068H559H8050H8085H6963H4427H4428H8050H559H582H3478H3212H376H5892
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