Why Israel Refused Samuel and the Son Who Spurned His Father's Trade

"But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel" (I Samuel 8:19). Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Yirmeyah said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rabbi Yitzchak: Because it is written, "How long do you refuse [to keep My commandments and My teachings]" (Exodus 16:28), therefore it is written, "But the people refused." It is like a certain butcher who died, and he left behind one son. His mother brought him to be taught a trade, but he ran away; she brought him to the study-house, but he ran away. She said: The remedy of the matter is that I will teach him his father's trade. She went and brought him to his father's colleague. She said to him: Take him, teach him his father's trade. He would bring him in, and the son would say to him, "The head of this one [the animal] is weak," and his legs would weaken; "his legs are weak," and his head would weaken. He brought him and laid him before his mother and said to her: Take that one—the grave [is ready] for him, for he transgressed against his father's trade. Because it is written, "How long do you refuse," therefore it is written, "But the people refused."