Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us,

But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be a king over us.

And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,

Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;

And the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, 'Nay, but a king is over us,

But the people gave no attention to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but we will have a king over us,

But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: "By no means! For there shall be a king over us,

The people refused to obey - They would have the king, his manner and all, notwithstanding the solemn warning which they here receive.

Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel,.... The advice he gave not to think of a king, but be content with the government under which they were; but to this they would not hearken, notwithstanding all the inconveniences that would attend such a change:
and they said, nay, but we will have a king over us; they would not believe what Samuel said concerning a king, even though they were the words of the Lord he delivered to them; and though they knew Samuel was a prophet, and spoke by a spirit of prophecy, and none of his words had ever fallen to the ground: but such was their stubbornness and obstinacy, and so set upon having a king, that one they would have, let them suffer what hardships, or be at what expenses they might; at all events, and against all remonstrances, they were determined to have one.

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel--They sneered at Samuel's description as a bugbear to frighten them. Determined, at all hazards, to gain their object, they insisted on being made like all the other nations, though it was their glory and happiness to be unlike other nations in having the Lord for their King and Lawgiver (Numbers 23:9; Deuteronomy 33:28). Their demand was conceded, for the government of a king had been provided for in the law; and they were dismissed to wait the appointment, which God had reserved to Himself (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).

With such a description of the "right of the king" as this, Samuel had pointed out to the elders the dangers connected with a monarchy in so alarming a manner, that they ought to have been brought to reflection, and to have desisted from their demand. "But the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel." They repeated their demand, "We will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our battles."