1 Samuel 8:1-5 ▼

1 And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.

3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.

4 Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.

5 And they said to him: “Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.”