1 Samuel 8:9 - Forerunner Commentary

1 Samuel 8:9

7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for ^athey have not rejected you, but ^bthey have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.

9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and ^ashow them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”

10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king.

11 And he said, ^a“This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your ^bsons and appoint them for his own ^cchariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.

12 He will ^aappoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

14 And ^ahe will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants.

16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest¹ young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.

17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants.

18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord ^awill not hear you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless the people ^arefused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,

20 that we also may be ^alike all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord.

22 So the Lord said to Samuel, ^a“Heed their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”

Verse Comparison: 1 Samuel 8:9

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1 Samuel 8:10 >>

American Standard Version
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Amplified® Bible
So listen now to their voice; only solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.

Contemporary English Version
Do everything they ask, but warn them and tell them how a king will treat them.

Darby English Version
And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Good News Bible
So then, listen to them, but give them strict warnings and explain how their kings will treat them."

King James Version
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

New American Standard Bible
"Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."

New International Version
Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."

New King James Version
Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."

Revised Standard Version
Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

Young's Literal Translation
And now, hearken to their voice; only, surely thou dost certainly protest to them, and hast declared to them the custom of the king who doth reign over them.'

New English Translation
So now do as they say.¹ But seriously warn² them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”³

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