Samuel’s words to the people of Israel must be understood against the background of 8.21-22.

Behold: see the comments on page 18 and following.

I have harkened to your voice: in addition to the use of the archaic verb harkened (New Revised Standard Version “listened”), this expression also uses the words your voice, where modern English would say simply “you.” The overall meaning is, however, more than “I have listened to you.” Samuel is stating that he has not only heard the words spoken by the people of Israel, but he has also acted as they desired.

The conjunction and between the two statements of Samuel should not give the impression that the second is totally different from the first, since providing a king is precisely what the people have requested. In some languages it may be best to translate the conjunction “that is to say,” or simply punctuate using a colon instead of and.

I … have made a king: see the comments on this expression in 8.22.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .