1 Samuel 8:1-8 ▼

1 And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes his sons judges over Israel.

2 And the name of his firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

3 and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.

4 And all [the] elderly of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Samuel at Ramath,

5 and say to him, “Behold, you have become aged, and your sons have not walked in your ways; now, appoint a king to us, to judge us, like all the nations.”

6 And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel when they have said, “Give a king to us, to judge us”; and Samuel prays to YHWH.

7 And YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people, to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.

8 According to all the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even to this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods—so they are also doing to you.