I Samuel 8 · שמואל א

And it came to pass, when Shemu᾽el was old, that he made his sons judges over Yisra᾽el.

Now the name of his firstborn was Yo᾽el, and the name of his second, Aviyya: they were judges in Be᾽er-sheva.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after unjust gain, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Yisra᾽el gathered themselves together, and came to Shemu᾽el to Rama,

and said to 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.

But the thing displeased Shemu᾽el when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Shemu᾽el prayed to the Lord.

And the Lord said to Shemu᾽el, Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

According to all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Miżrayim, and to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so they also do to thee.

Now you must hearken to their voice: nevertheless you should solemnly forewarn them, and relate to them the customary practice of the king that shall reign over them.

And Shemu᾽el told all the words of the Lord to the people that asked of him a king.

And he said, This will be the custom of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself on his chariot, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariot.

And he will appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

And he will take your daughters for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.

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

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and you shall be his servants.

And you shall cry out on that day because of your king which you shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you on that day.

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Shemu᾽el; and they said, No: but we will have a king over us;

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.

And Shemu᾽el heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of the Lord.

And the Lord said to Shemu᾽el, Listen to their voice, and make them a king. And Shemu᾽el said to the men of Yisra᾽el, Go every man to his city.