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1 Samuel 8:17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 8:17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/8-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/09_1Sa_08_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 8:17 - Samuel's Warning" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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And you will be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves shall be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />He will also take a tenth of your sheep and goats. You will become the king's slaves, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He will take a tenth of your flocks. In addition, you will be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He will take a tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He will take a tenth of your flock, and you will become his servants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He will take the tenth of your flocks: and you shall be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye will be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />he tithes your flock, and you are for servants to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> your flock he doth tithe, and ye are to him for servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And of your sheep he will take the tenth: and ye shall be to him for servants.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He will also tithe your flocks. As for you, you will become his slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He will take the tenth of your sheep; and you shall be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And of your sheep he will take a tenth, and you will be Servants for him<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />He will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he will tithe your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/8-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=1961" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/8.htm">Samuel's Warning</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6237.htm" title="6237: ya‘·śōr (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to accumulate; but used only as denominative from eser; to tithe, i.e. To take or give a tenth.">He will take a tenth</a> <a href="/hebrew/6629.htm" title="6629: ṣō·nə·ḵem (N-fsc:: 2mp) -- Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock. Or tsaown; from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock; also figuratively.">of your flocks,</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: wə·’at·tem (Conj-w:: Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">and you yourselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: tih·yū- (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">will become</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">his</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm (Prep-l:: N-mp) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">slaves.</a> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/17-14.htm">Deuteronomy 17:14-20</a></span><br />When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” / you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers. / But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/12-4.htm">1 Kings 12:4</a></span><br />“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-7.htm">1 Kings 21:7-15</a></span><br />But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” / Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. / In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/45-8.htm">Ezekiel 45:8-9</a></span><br />This land will be his possession in Israel. And My princes will no longer oppress My people, but will give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes. / For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-10.htm">Hosea 13:10-11</a></span><br />Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? / So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/22-13.htm">Jeremiah 22:13-17</a></span><br />“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, / who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. / Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1-3</a></span><br />Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/29-2.htm">Proverbs 29:2</a></span><br />When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/4-1.htm">2 Kings 4:1</a></span><br />Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1-5</a></span><br />About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/20-25.htm">Matthew 20:25-28</a></span><br />But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-42.htm">Mark 10:42-45</a></span><br />So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-25.htm">Luke 22:25-27</a></span><br />So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. / But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. / For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Romans 13:1-7</a></span><br />Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-2.htm">1 Peter 5:2-3</a></span><br />Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">He will take the tenth of your sheep: and you shall be his servants.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/8-16.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/judges/6-37.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-9.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-15.htm">Tenth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-15.htm">Tithe</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-7.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/9-3.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-32.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-40.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/2_kings/25-1.htm">Tenth</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/31-5.htm">Tithe</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-18.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-1.htm">By occasion of the ill government of Samuel's sons, the Israelites ask a king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-6.htm">Samuel praying in grief is comforted by God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-10.htm">He tells the manner of a king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/8-19.htm">God wills Samuel to yield unto the importunity of the people</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He will take a tenth of your flocks</b><br>This phrase highlights the practice of taxation or tribute that a king would impose on his subjects. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a tenth, or tithe, was a common form of taxation, often used to support the king's court and military. This mirrors the tithe that Israelites were already familiar with, as they were commanded to give a tenth of their produce to support the Levites and the temple (<a href="/leviticus/27-30.htm">Leviticus 27:30-32</a>). The demand for a tenth of the flocks signifies the king's authority over the people's resources, contrasting with the theocratic system where God was the direct ruler. This imposition foreshadows the burdensome rule of future kings, such as Solomon, who heavily taxed and conscripted labor from the Israelites (<a href="/1_kings/12-4.htm">1 Kings 12:4</a>).<p><b>and you yourselves will become his slaves</b><br>This phrase warns of the loss of freedom and autonomy under a monarchical system. Historically, kings in the ancient world often conscripted their subjects for labor, military service, or other duties, effectively reducing them to servitude. This warning is prophetic, as seen in the reign of Solomon, where the people were subjected to forced labor (<a href="/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13-14</a>). Theologically, this serves as a caution against rejecting God's direct rule in favor of human leadership, which can lead to oppression and loss of liberty. This also reflects the broader biblical theme of slavery to sin versus freedom in God, as seen in the New Testament (<a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16-18</a>). The Israelites' desire for a king, despite this warning, illustrates the human tendency to seek security in earthly systems rather than in divine provision.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/samuel.htm">Samuel</a></b><br>The last judge of Israel, a prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. He is delivering God's warning to the Israelites about the consequences of demanding a king.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of Israel who demanded a king to rule over them like other nations, rejecting God's direct rule.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/k/king.htm">King</a></b><br>The future monarch that the Israelites are demanding, who will impose taxes and conscription, as warned by Samuel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/f/flocks.htm">Flocks</a></b><br>Represents the wealth and livelihood of the Israelites, which will be taxed by the king.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/slavery.htm">Slavery</a></b><br>The condition that Samuel warns will result from the Israelites' demand for a king, indicating loss of freedom and increased burden.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_cost_of_rejecting_god's_rule.htm">The Cost of Rejecting God's Rule</a></b><br>The Israelites' demand for a king symbolizes a rejection of God's direct leadership. This decision comes with significant costs, including loss of freedom and increased burdens. Believers today must consider the implications of choosing worldly solutions over divine guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_nature_of_human_authority.htm">The Nature of Human Authority</a></b><br>Human authority, as illustrated by the king's demands, often leads to exploitation and servitude. This serves as a reminder to evaluate the nature of leadership and authority in our lives, ensuring it aligns with God's principles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/stewardship_and_trust.htm">Stewardship and Trust</a></b><br>The taking of a tenth of the flocks signifies a loss of resources and trust. Christians are called to be good stewards of their resources, trusting God rather than earthly systems for provision and security.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_choices.htm">Consequences of Choices</a></b><br>The Israelites' choice to have a king led to long-term consequences. This teaches us the importance of seeking God's will in our decisions, understanding that our choices have lasting impacts.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 8</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/are_you_ready_to_face_death.htm">What does 'your rod and staff comfort me' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_1_chr_17_and_2_sam_7.htm">How do we reconcile the differences between 1 Chronicles 17 and 2 Samuel 7 regarding the details of God's covenant with David?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_1_sam_8_11-18_align_with_divine_rule.htm">How do the ominous predictions about a king’s behavior (1 Samuel 8:11–18) align with the notion of a divinely sanctioned ruler? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_deut._17_14-20_and_1_sam._8_conflict.htm">How does Deuteronomy 17:14-20's endorsement of a human king align with 1 Samuel 8's warning against monarchy, and are these texts contradictory?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">And ye shall be his servants.</span>--This statement generally includes all that has gone before. In other words, "Ye elders and chiefs of the people must make up your minds, in the event of electing a king, to the loss of all political and social freedom." How bitterly the nation, even in the successful and glorious reign of King Solomon, felt the pressure of the royal yoke, so truly foretold by their last judge, is shown in the history of the times which followed the death of Solomon, when the public discontent at the brilliant but despotic rule of the great king led to the revolution which split up the people into two nations. (See <a href="/1_kings/12-4.htm" title="Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.">1Kings 12:4</a>.) "This whole passage bears internal evidence of having been written before the establishment of the monarchy."--<span class= "ital">Speaker's Commentary.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">His servants.</span> Literally, "his slaves." Under an absolute monarchy no one is flee. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/8-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He will take a tenth</span><br /><span class="heb">יַעְשֹׂ֑ר</span> <span class="translit">(ya‘·śōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6237.htm">Strong's 6237: </a> </span><span class="str2">To tithe, to take, give a, tenth</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of your flocks,</span><br /><span class="heb">צֹאנְכֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(ṣō·nə·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6629.htm">Strong's 6629: </a> </span><span class="str2">Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and you yourselves</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַתֶּ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will become</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּֽהְיוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(tih·yū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his</span><br /><span class="heb">ל֥וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(lōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">slaves.</span><br /><span class="heb">לַעֲבָדִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/8-17.htm">1 Samuel 8:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/8-17.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 8:17 He will take the tenth of your (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/8-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 8:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 8:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/8-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 8:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 8:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>