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)