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15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life:

16 And he went every year about to Bethel and to Galgal and to Masphath, and he judged Israel in the aforesaid places.

17 And he returned to Ramatha, for there was his house, and there he judged Israel: he built also there an altar to the Lord.

And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

And his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

And they said to him: Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they should say: Give us a king, to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, that I should not reign over them.

15 Samuel(A) continued as Israel’s leader(B) all(C) the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel(D) to Gilgal(E) to Mizpah, judging(F) Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah,(G) where his home was, and there he also held court(H) for Israel. And he built an altar(I) there to the Lord.

Israel Asks for a King

When Samuel grew old, he appointed(J) his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,(K) and they served at Beersheba.(L) But his sons(M) did not follow his ways. They turned aside(N) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes(O) and perverted(P) justice.

So all the elders(Q) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(R) They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(S) to lead[b](T) us, such as all the other nations(U) have.”

But when they said, “Give us a king(V) to lead us,” this displeased(W) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen(X) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(Y) but they have rejected me as their king.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:1 Traditionally judges
  2. 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20