Israel Demands a King
(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges 1over Israel. Deu 16:18-191Ti 5:212Ch 19:5-6Jdg 12:14Jdg 8:22-23Neh 7:2Jdg 10:4Jdg 5:10 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 1Ch 6:281Ch 6:381Ki 19:3Amo 5:5Gen 22:19 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice. Deu 16:191Ti 6:10Psa 15:5Exo 18:21Exo 23:81Ti 3:32Sa 15:4Isa 33:15
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 1Sa 7:172Sa 5:3Exo 24:1Exo 3:16 “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” Deu 17:14-151Sa 8:19-201Sa 8:6-8Hos 13:10-111Sa 12:17Num 23:9Act 13:21
But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 1Sa 15:111Sa 12:17Jas 1:5Exo 32:21Exo 32:32Ezr 9:3-5Luk 6:11-12Num 16:15
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. Luk 10:161Sa 10:19Exo 16:8Luk 19:14Luk 19:27Hos 13:10-11Mat 10:40Psa 81:11-12 Just 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. Exo 32:1Psa 106:34-40Act 7:51-53Deu 9:24Exo 14:11-12Exo 16:3Exo 17:2Jdg 13:1 Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.” 1Sa 10:251Sa 8:11-18Ezk 3:18Ezk 46:181Sa 14:521Sa 2:13Ezk 45:7-8
Samuel’s Warning
So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots. 1Sa 14:521Sa 10:252Sa 15:1Deu 17:14-201Ki 10:261Ki 1:51Ki 12:101Ki 12:4
He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots. 1Ch 27:1-221Ki 4:22-231Ki 4:27-281Ki 4:71Sa 22:72Ch 32:28-29
And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants. Ezk 46:181Ki 21:71Ki 21:191Sa 22:7 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. Dan 1:18Dan 1:3Dan 1:7-10Gen 37:36Isa 39:7 And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle 2and donkeys and put them to his own use.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.” Mic 3:4Isa 1:15Pro 1:25-28Isa 8:21Job 27:9Luk 13:25Pro 21:13Psa 18:41
God Grants the Request
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. Jer 44:16Ezk 33:31Isa 66:4Jer 7:13Psa 81:11 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.” 1Sa 8:51Pe 2:92Co 6:17Deu 7:6Exo 33:16Jhn 15:19Lev 20:24-26Num 23:9
Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. Jdg 11:11
“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” 1Sa 8:7Hos 13:11
Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”