that they
would be sufficiently rebuked for their contempt, and the ungrateful
conduct they have used towards me, and towards thy prophetic office. "So
I command thee to ordain them such a one as I shall name beforehand
to be their king, when thou hast first described what mischiefs kingly
government will bring upon them, and openly testified before them into
what a great change of affairs they are hasting."

5. When Samuel had heard this, he called the Jews early in the morning,
and confessed to them that he was to ordain them a king; but he said
that he was first to describe to them what would follow, what treatment
they would receive from their kings, and with how many mischiefs they
must struggle. "For know ye," said he, "that, in the first place, they
will take your sons away from you, and they will command some of them
to be drivers of their chariots, and some to be their horsemen, and the
guards of their body, and others of them to be runners before them, and
captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; they will also
make them their artificers, makers of armor, and of chariots, and of
instruments; they will make them their husbandmen also, and the curators
of their own fields, and the diggers of their own vineyards; nor will
there be any thing which they will not do at their commands, as if they
were slaves bought with money. They will also appoint your daughters to
be confectioners, and cooks, and bakers; and these will be obliged to
do all sorts of work which women slaves, that are in fear of stripes
and torments, submit to. They will, besides this, take away your
possessions, and bestow them upon their eunuchs, and the guards of their
bodies, and will give the herds of your cattle to their own servants:
and to say briefly all at once, you, and all that is yours, will be
servants to your king, and will become no way superior to his slaves;
and when you suffer thus, you will thereby be put in mind of what I now
say. And when you repent of what you have done, you will beseech God
to have mercy upon you, and to grant you a quick deliverance from your
kings; but he will not accept your prayers, but will neglect you, and
permit you to suffer the punishment your evil conduct has deserved."

6. But the multitude was still so foolish as to be deaf to these
predictions of what would befall them; and too peevish to suffer a
determination which they had injudiciously once made, to be taken out
of their mind; for the