1 Samuel 8:1-7 ▼

1 When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.

3 His sons did not follow Samuel's example. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 All the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 They told him, |Look, you're old, and your sons don't follow your example. So appoint a king to govern us like all the other nations.|

6 Samuel was displeased when they said, |Give us a king to govern us.| So Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 The LORD told Samuel, |Listen to the people in all that they say to you. In fact, it's not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king.