« | 1 Samuel 8 | » |
1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel.
2 His first-born was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba.
3 His sons did not follow his example but sought illicit gain and accepted bribes, perverting justice.
4 Therefore all the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah
5 and said to him, "Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us."
6 Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however,
7 who said in answer: "Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.
8 As they have treated me constantly from the day I brought them up from Egypt to this day, deserting me and worshiping strange gods, so do they treat you too.
9 Now grant their request; but at the same time, warn them solemnly and inform them of the rights of the king who will rule them."
10 Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king.
11 He told them: "The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot.
12 He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers. He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
13 He will use your daughters as ointment-makers, as cooks, and as bakers.
14 He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials.
15 He will tithe your crops and your vineyards, and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.
16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best oxen and your asses, and use them to do his work.
17 He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 When this takes place, you will complain against the king whom you have chosen, but on that day the LORD will not answer you."
19 The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel's warning and said, "Not so! There must be a king over us.
20 We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles."
21 When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD,
22 who then said to him, "Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them." Samuel thereupon said to the men of Israel, "Each of you go to his own city."
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU)
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU) is a highly respected English translation of the Bible known for its rigorous adherence to the original languages of Scripture. First published in 1995 by the Lockman Foundation, the NASU is an update of the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which was originally completed in 1971. The NASU seeks to improve upon the NASB by enhancing readability and modernizing the language while maintaining the translation’s reputation for being one of the most literal translations available. This makes the NASU a preferred choice for serious Bible study, preaching, and teaching.
A key feature of the NASU is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation philosophy. The translators aimed to produce a text that is as close as possible to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This approach ensures that the NASU captures the precise meaning and structure of the original texts, providing readers with a highly accurate and reliable representation of the Scriptures. The use of formal equivalence makes the NASU particularly valuable for those who desire a deep and detailed understanding of the Bible, including scholars, theologians, and students of the Word.
In updating the NASB, the NASU made several important changes to improve clarity and readability. While maintaining the accuracy and literalness of the translation, the NASU incorporates modern English expressions and smoother sentence structures. This makes the text more accessible to contemporary readers without compromising the precision that the NASB is known for. The NASU also includes updated cross-references and footnotes, which provide additional context and insights, further aiding in the study and understanding of the biblical text.
Despite its many strengths, the NASU has faced some criticism. Some readers and scholars argue that the translation’s emphasis on literalness can sometimes result in a text that feels stiff or less fluid than more dynamic translations. Additionally, while the NASU’s updated language makes it more accessible, some feel that it could go further in adapting to contemporary usage without losing its accuracy. Nevertheless, the New American Standard Updated Version remains a highly esteemed translation, valued for its fidelity to the original texts and its usefulness for in-depth study and precise interpretation of the Bible.