1 Samuel 7:15-8:7

New American Standard Bible

Samuel’s Ministry

¹⁵ Now Samuel ^(A)judged Israel all the days of his life. ¹⁶ And he used to go annually on a circuit to ^(B)Bethel, ^(C)Gilgal, and ^(D)Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. ¹⁷ Then he would make his return to ^(E)Ramah, because his house was there, and there he also judged Israel; and there he ^(F)built an altar to the Lord.

Israel Demands a King

8 Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that ^(G)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 judging in ^(H)Beersheba. ³ His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they ^(I)took bribes and perverted justice.

⁴ Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at ^(J)Ramah; ⁵ and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now ^(K)appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” ⁶ But the matter was ^[a](L)displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And ^(M)Samuel prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because ^(N)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.