1 Samuel 8:10–20

¹⁰Then Samuel told the people who had asked him for a king everything the Lord had said. ¹¹Samuel said, “These are the rights of a king: 

He will draft your sons, make them serve on his chariots and horses, and make them run ahead of his chariots. 

¹²He will appoint them to be his officers over 1,000 or over 50 soldiers, to plow his ground and harvest his crops, and to make weapons and equipment for his chariots. 

¹³He will take your daughters and have them make perfumes, cook, and bake. 

¹⁴He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials. 

¹⁵He will take a tenth of your grain and wine and give it to his aids and officials. 

¹⁶He will take your male and female slaves, your best cattle,^aand your donkeys for his own use. 

¹⁷He will take a tenth of your flocks. 

In addition, you will be his servants. 

¹⁸“When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves. The Lord will not answer you when that day comes.” 

¹⁹But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, “No, we want a king! ²⁰Then we, too, will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us out ⸤to war⸥, and fight our battles.”