1. In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel.
2. His firstborn was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba.
3. His sons did not follow his example, but looked to their own gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4. Therefore all the elders of Israel assembled and went to Samuel at Ramah
5. and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, like all the nations, to rule us.”
6. Samuel was displeased when they said, “Give us a king to rule us.” But he prayed to the Lord.
7. The Lord said: Listen to whatever the people say. You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king.
8. They are acting toward you just as they have acted from the day I brought them up from Egypt to this very day, deserting me to serve other gods.