1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel's leaders. [^1]2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead "us, such as all the other nations have."6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.7 And 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.8 As 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.9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights."10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.11 He 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.12 Some 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.13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle "and donkeys he will take for his own use.17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.18 When 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."19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us.20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD.22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel said to the Israelites, "Everyone go back to your own town."

1 Factum est autem cum senuisset Samuel, posuit filios suos judices Isral. 2 Fuitque nomen filii ejus primogeniti Jol : et nomen secundi Abia, judicum in Bersabee. 3 Et non ambulaverunt filii illius in viis ejus : sed declinaverunt post avaritiam, acceperuntque munera, et perverterunt judicium. 4 Congregati ergo universi majores natu Isral, venerunt ad Samuelem in Ramatha. 5 Dixeruntque ei : Ecce tu senuisti, et filii tui non ambulant in viis tuis : constitue nobis regem, ut judicet nos, sicut et univers habent nationes. 6 Displicuit sermo in oculis Samuelis, eo quod dixissent : Da nobis regem, ut judicet nos. Et oravit Samuel ad Dominum. 7 Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem : Audi vocem populi in omnibus qu loquuntur tibi : non enim te abjecerunt, sed me, ne regnem super eos. 8 Juxta omnia opera sua qu fecerunt, a die qua eduxi eos de gypto usque ad diem hanc : sicut dereliquerunt me, et servierunt diis alienis, sic faciunt etiam tibi. 9 Nunc ergo vocem eorum audi : verumtamen contestare eos, et prdic eis jus regis, qui regnaturus est super eos.10 Dixit itaque Samuel omnia verba Domini ad populum, qui petierat a se regem. 11 Et ait : Hoc erit jus regis, qui imperaturus est vobis : filios vestros tollet, et ponet in curribus suis : facietque sibi equites et prcursores quadrigarum suarum, 12 et constituet sibi tribunos, et centuriones, et aratores agrorum suorum, et messores segetum, et fabros armorum et curruum suorum. 13 Filias quoque vestras faciet sibi unguentarias, et focarias, et panificas. 14 Agros quoque vestros, et vineas, et oliveta optima tollet, et dabit servis suis. 15 Sed et segetes vestras et vinearum reditus addecimabit, ut det eunuchis et famulis suis. 16 Servos etiam vestros, et ancillas, et juvenes optimos, et asinos, auferet, et ponet in opere suo. 17 Greges quoque vestros addecimabit, vosque eritis ei servi. 18 Et clamabitis in die illa a facie regis vestri, quem elegistis vobis : et non exaudiet vos Dominus in die illa, quia petistis vobis regem. 19 Noluit autem populus audire vocem Samuelis, sed dixerunt : Nequaquam : rex enim erit super nos, 20 et erimus nos quoque sicut omnes gentes : et judicabit nos rex noster, et egredietur ante nos, et pugnabit bella nostra pro nobis. 21 Et audivit Samuel omnia verba populi, et locutus est ea in auribus Domini. 22 Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem : Audi vocem eorum, et constitue super eos regem. Et ait Samuel ad viros Isral : Vadat unusquisque in civitatem suam.