When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.

Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after false riches. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

And they said to him, “Behold, you have become old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

But the thing was evil in Samuel’s sight, when they said, “Appoint for us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed before the LORD.

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Accept the speech of the people in all that they say to you, for it is not you they have rejected, for they have refused my worship so that I cannot be king over them anymore.

According to all the deeds which they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day – they have forsaken my worship and have worshipped the idols of the nations so they are also doing to you, too.

Now then, accept their speech. Only, you shall solemnly warn them, and tell them the right of the king who shall reign over them.”

So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking a king from him.

He said, “This is the right of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and the pursuers before his chariots;

and to appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifty; and farmers to plough his ground and to reap his harvest; and craftsmen to make his implements of war and the equipment for his chariots.

He will take your daughters to be servants and cooks and bakers.

He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants.

He will take one tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his commanders and his servants.

The most handsome of your menservants, your maidservants, your young men and your asses he will take for his business.

He will take one tenth of your flocks, and you will be his servants.

And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not accept your prayer in that day.”

But the people rebelled against accepting Samuel’s speech and they said, “No! but there will be a king over us.

Then also we will be like all the nations. Our king will avenge us and go out at our head and wage our wars.”

And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he reported them before the LORD.

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Accept the speech of the people and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”