1-2. Samuel had two sons. The elder one was Joel, and the younger one was Abijah. When Samuel was getting old, he let them be leaders at Beersheba.
3. But they were not like their father. They were dishonest and accepted bribes to give unfair decisions.
4. One day the nation's leaders came to Samuel at Ramah
5. and said, “You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons, but they haven't followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us!”
6. Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king, so he prayed about it.
7. The Lord answered:Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king.
8. Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you.