And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
And all the people said to Samuel, 'Please pray to the LORD your God for us, your servants, so that we won't die. We have added this evil thing to all our other sins by asking for a king.'
The people realize they've sinned by demanding a king and beg Samuel to pray for God's mercy so they won't be punished with death.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of 1 Samuel, the Israelites had been governed by judges appointed by God, but they demanded a king to be like other nations around them. Samuel, as the last judge, warned them that this request was a rejection of God's direct rule, and in this verse, the people recognize their sin and urgently ask Samuel to pray for them to avoid divine punishment. This event highlights the transition from Israel's theocratic system to a human monarchy.
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