KJV ORIGINAL
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
He will take one-tenth of your sheep and flocks, and you will become his servants.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is warning that a king will claim a portion of people's livestock and make them serve his purposes.
📚 Historical Context
Samuel is warning the Israelites about the costs of having a human king, as they had requested instead of being directly led by God. In ancient times, kings typically demanded tribute from their subjects, including livestock, crops, and labor. This was Samuel's attempt to help them understand that earthly kings would burden them with taxes and service, unlike God's leadership which was based on love and covenant relationship.
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