KJV ORIGINAL
And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Listen to what they're asking for and give them a king.' Then Samuel told the men of Israel, 'Go back to your towns.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God tells Samuel to give the people what they want - a king - even though it wasn't His best plan for them.
📚 Historical Context
The Israelites had been governed by judges like Samuel for generations, but they wanted a king like other nations around them. Despite Samuel's warnings about how kings would treat them, the people insisted. This marked a major turning point as Israel transitioned from a theocracy (God as king) to a monarchy.
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