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[40]
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."
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