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1 Samuel 7:15-8:7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Samuel 7:15-8:7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.(A) 16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations. 17 Then he would return to Ramah(B) because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to the Lord there.
Israel’s Demand for a King
8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.(C) 2 His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.(D) 3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways—they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.(E)
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.(F) 5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your example. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”(G)
6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the Lord. 7 But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king.(H)
1 Samuel 7:15-8:7
New International Version
1 Samuel 7:15-8:7
New International Version
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
8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed(J) his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,(K) and they served at Beersheba.(L) 3 But his sons(M) did not follow his ways. They turned aside(N) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes(O) and perverted(P) justice.
4 So all the elders(Q) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(R) 5 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.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king(V) to lead us,” this displeased(W) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 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 Samuel 8:1 Traditionally judges
- 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.