Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, "Look, you are old, and your sons walk not in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

And the LORD said unto Samuel, "Listen unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

"According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, with which they have abandoned me, and served other gods, so do they also unto you. Now therefore listen unto their voice: however, yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him for a king. And he said, "This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to plow, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

"And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

"And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and you shall be his servants. And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you shall have chosen…and the LORD will not hear you in that day."

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No; but we will have a king over us; 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."

And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and make them a king." And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, "Go…every man unto his city."

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish…a mighty man of power. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a fine young man, and good: and there was not among the children of Israel a better person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.

And the donkeys of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go find the donkeys."

And when they were come to the land of Zuph…Saul’s servant said unto him, "Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says comes surely to pass: now let us go there; perhaps he can show us our way that we should go." And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, look, Samuel came out toward them, for to go up to the high place.

Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me."

And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, "Look the man whom I spoke to you of! This same shall reign over my people."

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon Saul’s head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance? And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and, look, I will come down unto you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shall you tarry, till I come to you, and show you what you shall do.

And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; And said unto the children of Israel, "This says the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And you have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your distress; and you have said unto him, "No, but set a king over us." Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands."

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they looked for him, he could not be found. So they inquired of the LORD further.… And the LORD answered, "Look, he has hid himself among the stuff."

And they ran and fetched him then: and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

And Samuel said to all the people, "See…him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?"

And all the people shouted, and said, "God save the king."

And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched, but the children of Satan said, "How shall this man save us?" And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But Saul held his peace.

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and camped against Jabeshgilead…. And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and sawed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whoever comes not out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen." And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out in total agreement.

And it was so the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the army in the morning watch, and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

And the people said unto Samuel, "Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death."

And Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the LORD has brought salvation in Israel."

Then said Samuel to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom…." And all the people went…and…they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed…before the LORD; and…Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

And Samuel said unto all Israel, "Look, I have listened to your voice in all that you said unto me, and have made a king over you.

"Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have desired! And, look, the LORD has set a king over you. If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that rules over you continue following the LORD your God: But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

"Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for a king."

So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel, "Pray for your servants unto the LORD your God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king."

And Samuel said unto the people, "Fear not: you have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn…not aside: for then should you go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it has pleased the LORD to make you his people.

"Furthermore as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only revere the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he has done for you. But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king."

REFERENCES

1 Samuel 8:4-20, 22; 1 Samuel 9:1-3, 5-6, 14-17; 1 Samuel 10:1, 8, 17-24, 26-27; 1 Samuel 11:1, 6-7, 11-15; 1 Samuel 12:1, 13-25.

CHAPTER 22