He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
He will take one-tenth of your sheep and flocks, and you will become his servants.
The writer is warning that a king will claim a portion of people's livestock and make them serve his purposes.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of 1 Samuel, the elders of Israel approached the prophet Samuel to request a king so they could be like the surrounding nations, despite God's role as their ultimate leader. Samuel, under divine instruction, warned the people about the heavy burdens a human king would impose, including taking their resources and conscripting their service, as a way to illustrate the potential for oppression. This verse is part of that warning, emphasizing how a king's demands would lead to the people's subjugation.
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