Study Desk

So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king.

And he said, This, will be the manner of the king who will reign over you, - Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;

and he will appoint for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, - and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and the instruments of his chariots;

And, your daughters, will he take, - as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers;

And, your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, will he take, and give to his servants;

And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants;

And, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, - and put them to his work;

Your flocks, will he tithe, - and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants.

Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, - and Yahweh will not answer you, in that day.

But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, - and they said - Nay! but, a king, shall be over us:

so shall, even we, become like all the nations, - and our king shall judge us, and go forth before us, and fight our battles.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, - and spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: Go ye, every man to his own city.