1 Samuel 8:1-7 ▼

1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.

5 They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

7 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.