KJV ORIGINAL
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
But this request upset Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to rule over us.' So Samuel prayed to the LORD about it.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Samuel was troubled when the Israelites asked for a human king, so he brought his concerns to God in prayer.
📚 Historical Context
The Israelites had been governed by judges like Samuel for generations, with God as their ultimate king. This request for a human monarchy represented a significant shift away from their unique theocratic system. Samuel, who had faithfully served as both judge and prophet, likely saw this as a rejection of God's direct rule over Israel.
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