1 Samuel 8:4-9

8:4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah. 8:5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead ¹  us, just like all the other nations have.”

8:6 But this request displeased Samuel, for ²  they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 8:7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. ³  For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. 8:8 Just as they have done ⁴  from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. 8:9 So now do as they say. ⁵  But seriously warn ⁶  them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.” ⁷ 

[8:5]  ¹ tn Heb “judge” (also in v. 6).

[8:6]  ² tn Heb “when.”

[8:7]  ³ tn Heb “Listen to the voice of the people, to all which they say to you.”

[8:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “according to all the deeds which they have done.”

[8:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “and now, listen to their voice.”

[8:9]  ⁶ tn The infinitive absolute appears before the imperative for emphasis.

[8:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “and tell them the manner of the king who will rule over them.”