1. Now when Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second Abijah—they were judges in Beersheba.
3. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain—they took bribes and perverted justice.
4. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
5. and said to him, “Behold, you have grown old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us—like all the nations.”
6. But the matter was displeasing in Samuel’s eyes when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Adonai.
7. Then Adonai said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For they have not rejected you, rather they have rejected Me from being king over them.