22The Israelites then said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son, and your son’s son—for you saved us from the power of Midian.” 23But Gideon answered them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you. The Lord must rule over you.”
7When this was reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and cried out in a loud voice:
“Hear me, lords of Shechem,
and may God hear you!
8One day the trees went out
to anoint a king over themselves.
So they said to the olive tree,
‘Reign over us.’
9But the olive tree answered them,
‘Must I give up my rich oil,
whereby gods and human beings are honored,
and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
10Then the trees said to the fig tree,
‘Come; you reign over us!’
11But the fig tree answered them,
‘Must I give up my sweetness
and my sweet fruit,
and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
12Then the trees said to the vine,
‘Come you, reign over us.’
13But the vine answered them,
‘Must I give up my wine
that cheers gods and human beings,
and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
14Then all the trees said to the buckthorn,
‘Come; you reign over us!’
15The buckthorn answered the trees,
‘If you are anointing me in good faith,
to make me king over you,
come, and take refuge in my shadow.
But if not, let fire come from the buckthorn
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own sight.
Request for a King. 1In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2His firstborn was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba. 3His sons did not follow his example, but looked to their own gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice. 4Therefore all the elders of Israel assembled and went to Samuel at Ramah 5and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, like all the nations, to rule us.”
6Samuel was displeased when they said, “Give us a king to rule us.” But he prayed to the Lord. 7The Lord said: Listen to whatever the people say. You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king. 8They are acting toward you just as they have acted from the day I brought them up from Egypt to this very day, deserting me to serve other gods. 9Now listen to them; but at the same time, give them a solemn warning and inform them of the rights of the king who will rule them.
The Governance of the King. 10Samuel delivered the message of the Lord in full to those who were asking him for a king. 11He told them: “The governance of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot. 12He will appoint from among them his commanders of thousands and of hundreds. He will make them do his plowing and harvesting and produce his weapons of war and chariotry. 13He will use your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15He will tithe your crops and grape harvests to give to his officials and his servants. 16He will take your male and female slaves, as well as your best oxen and donkeys, and use them to do his work. 17He will also tithe your flocks. As for you, you will become his slaves. 18On that day you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.”
Persistent Demand. 19The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “No! There must be a king over us. 20We too must be like all the nations, with a king to rule us, lead us in warfare, and fight our battles.” 21Samuel listened to all the concerns of the people and then repeated them to the Lord. 22The Lord said: Listen to them! Appoint a king to rule over them. Then Samuel said to the people of Israel, “Return, each one of you, to your own city.”
At daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, and I will send you on your way.” Saul got up, and he and Samuel went outside the city together. 27As they were approaching the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay here for a moment, that I may give you a word from God.”
10:1 Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying: “The Lord anoints you ruler over his people Israel. You are the one who will govern the Lord’s people and save them from the power of their enemies all around them.
“This will be the sign for you that the Lord has anointed you ruler over his heritage: ...”
17Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah 18and addressed the Israelites: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: It was I who brought Israel up from Egypt and delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 19But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your evils and calamities, by saying, ‘No! You must appoint a king over us.’ Now, therefore, take your stand before the Lord according to your tribes and families.” 20So Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21Next he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by clans, and the clan of Matri was chosen, and finally Saul, son of Kish, was chosen. But when they went to look for him, he was nowhere to be found. 22Again they consulted the Lord, “Is there still someone else to come forward?” The Lord answered: He is hiding among the baggage. 23They ran to bring him from there; when he took his place among the people, he stood head and shoulders above all the people. 24Then Samuel addressed all the people, “Do you see the man whom the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people!” Then all the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”
25Samuel next explained to the people the rules of the monarchy, wrote them in a book, and placed them before the presence of the Lord. Samuel then sent the people back to their own homes. 26Saul also went home to Gibeah, accompanied by warriors whose hearts the Lord had touched. 27But some worthless people said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no tribute.
12The people then said to Samuel: “Who questioned whether Saul should rule over us? Hand them over and we will put them to death.” 13But Saul objected, “No one will be put to death this day, for today the Lord has rescued Israel.” 14Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal to renew the kingship there.” 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king in the Lord’s presence. They also sacrificed communion offerings there before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.