1 Samuel 8:1-8 ▼

1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

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

3 But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.

5 They said to him, |Look, you are old, and your sons don't follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.|

6 But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, |Give us a king to lead us.| So Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 The LORD said to Samuel, |Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.

8 Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you.