Israēls pieprasa ķēniņu
1 Kad Samuēls kļuva vecs, viņš iecēla savus dēlus Israēlam par soģiem. 2 Viņa pirmdzimto dēlu sauca Joēls un otro – Abija, viņi bija soģi Bēršebā. 3 Bet viņa dēli nestaigāja viņa ceļus un kāroja mantu, tie ņēma kukuļus un sagrozīja tiesu.
4 Visi Israēla vecajie sapulcējās un nāca pie Samuēla uz Rāmu. 5 Viņi tam teica: “Redzi, tu esi vecs, bet tavi dēli nestaigā tavus ceļus. Jel iecel mums ķēniņu, kas spriestu tiesu, kā tas ir visām tautām!” 6 Bet Samuēlam nepatika, ka viņi teica: “Dod mums ķēniņu, kas spriestu mums tiesu,” un Samuēls lūdza Kungu.
7 Kungs sacīja Samuēlam: “Ieklausies tautas balsī – visā, ko viņi tev saka, jo ne tevi viņi ir atraidījuši, bet mani, lai es vairs nebūtu viņu ķēniņš. 8 Tādi ir visi viņu darbi, ko tie darījuši kopš dienas, kad es tos izvedu no Ēģiptes, līdz šai dienai, – mani tie ir atstājuši un kalpojuši citiem dieviem; tāpat viņi dara arī ar tevi. 9 Tad nu paklausi viņus, bet nopietni tos brīdini un dari tiem zināmu, kā ķēniņš rīkosies, valdīdams pār tiem.”
10 Visu Kunga teikto Samuēls izstāstīja ļaudīm, kuri prasīja no viņa ķēniņu. 11 Viņš teica: “Tā rīkosies ķēniņš, valdīdams pār jums, – viņš ņems jūsu dēlus un liks sev par ratu braucējiem un zirgu puišiem, un tie skries viņa ratiem pa priekšu. 12 Viņš iecels sev virsniekus pār tūkstošiem un virsniekus pār piecdesmit, un tiem būs jāar viņa lauki un jāpļauj viņa raža, jātaisa viņam ieroči un kararatu rīki. 13 Un viņš ņems jūsu meitas par smaržu maisītājām, virējām un maizes cepējām. 14 Un jūsu labākos tīrumus, vīnadārzus un olīvkokus viņš ņems un atdos saviem kalpiem. 15 Viņš ņems desmito tiesu no jūsu sēklas un vīnadārziem un atdos saviem ierēdņiem un kalpiem. 16 Un labākos no jūsu vergiem un verdzenēm un jūsu jaunekļiem, un jūsu ēzeļus viņš ņems saviem darbiem. 17 Viņš ņems desmito tiesu no jūsu sīklopiem, un jūs būsiet viņa vergi. 18 Tad jūs brēksiet par ķēniņu, ko būsiet izvēlējušies, bet Kungs jums tad neatbildēs!” 19 Bet tauta atteicās klausīt Samuēlu un teica: “Nē! Ka tik mums būtu ķēniņš! 20 Lai mēs esam kā citas tautas, un mūsu ķēniņš lai spriež mums tiesu un iet mums pa priekšu karot mūsu karos!” 21 Samuēls noklausījās visu, ko tauta teica, un izstāstīja to Kungam.
22 Un Kungs sacīja Samuēlam: “Paklausi viņus un iecel tiem ķēniņu!” Tad Samuēls sacīja Israēla vīriem: “Dodieties katrs uz savu pilsētu.”
The People of Israel Want a King
1-2 Samuel had two sons. The older one was Joel, and the younger one was Abijah. When Samuel was getting old, he let them be leaders at Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father. They were dishonest and accepted bribes to give unfair decisions.
4 One day the nation's leaders came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said, “You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons, but they haven't followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us!”
6 Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king, so he prayed about it. 7 The Lord answered:
Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king. 8 Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you. 9 Do everything they ask, but warn them and tell them how a king will treat them.
10 Samuel told the people who were asking for a king what the Lord had said:
11 If you have a king, this is how he will treat you. He will force your sons to join his army. Some of them will ride in his chariots, some will serve in the cavalry, and others will run ahead of his own chariot. 12 Some of them will be officers in charge of 1,000 soldiers, and others will be in charge of 50. Still others will have to farm the king's land and harvest his crops, or make weapons and parts for his chariots. 13 Your daughters will have to make perfume or do his cooking and baking.
14 The king will take your best fields, as well as your vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his own officials. 15 He will also take a tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers and officials.
16 The king will take your slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and make them do his work. 17 He will also take a tenth of your sheep and goats. You will become the king's slaves, 18 and you will finally cry out for the Lord to save you from the king you wanted. But the Lord won't answer your prayers.
19-20 The people would not listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want to be like other nations. We want a king to rule us and lead us in battle.”
21 Samuel listened to them and then told the Lord exactly what they had said. 22 “Do what they want,” the Lord answered. “Give them a king.”
Samuel told the people to go back to their homes.
