1 Samuel 8

About 1 Samuel 1 Samuel tells of Samuel the prophet, Israel's first king Saul, and the rise of young David.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.Selected1 Samuel 8:1Ask

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.Selected1 Samuel 8:2Ask

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.Selected1 Samuel 8:3Ask

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,Selected1 Samuel 8:4Ask

And 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.Selected1 Samuel 8:5Ask

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.Selected1 Samuel 8:6Ask

And 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.Selected1 Samuel 8:7Ask

According 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.Selected1 Samuel 8:8Ask

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.Selected1 Samuel 8:9Ask

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.Selected1 Samuel 8:10Ask

And 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.Selected1 Samuel 8:11Ask

And 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.Selected1 Samuel 8:12Ask

And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.Selected1 Samuel 8:13Ask

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.Selected1 Samuel 8:14Ask

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.Selected1 Samuel 8:15Ask

And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.Selected1 Samuel 8:16Ask

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.Selected1 Samuel 8:17Ask

And 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.Selected1 Samuel 8:18Ask

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;Selected1 Samuel 8:19Ask

That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.Selected1 Samuel 8:20Ask

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.Selected1 Samuel 8:21Ask

And 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.Selected1 Samuel 8:22Ask

Read from the KJV text.

All 31 chapters of 1 Samuel
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31