{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/8","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T21:17:29.509Z"},"reference":{"translation":"KJV","book":"1 Samuel","bookSlug":"1-samuel","chapter":8,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":7,"nextChapter":9,"totalChapters":31,"totalVerses":22},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: <i>they were</i> judges in Beersheba."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,"},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"And said unto 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."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint <i>them</i> for himself, for his chariots, and <i>to be</i> his horsemen; and <i>some</i> shall run before his chariots."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and <i>will set them</i> to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"And he will take your daughters <i>to be</i> confectionaries, and <i>to be</i> cooks, and <i>to be</i> bakers."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, <i>even</i> the best <i>of them</i>, and give <i>them</i> to his servants."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put <i>them</i> to his work."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;"},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city."}],"citation":{"inline":"1 Samuel 8 (KJV)","markdown":"[1 Samuel 8](https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/8)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* KJV. https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/8 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}