¹⁵ Samuel^(A) continued as Israel’s leader^(B) all^(C) the days of his life.

⁶ When they had assembled at Mizpah,^(A) they drew water and poured^(B) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader^[a](C) of Israel at Mizpah.

²⁰ All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges^(A) until the time of Samuel the prophet.^{(B) 21} Then the people asked for a king,^(C) and he gave them Saul^(D) son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,^(E) who ruled forty years.

¹⁶ Then the Lord raised up judges,^[a](A) who saved^(B) them out of the hands of these raiders.

David, Nabal and Abigail

25 Now Samuel died,^(A) and all Israel assembled and mourned^(B) for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.^(C) Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.^[a]

¹¹ Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal,^[a](A) Barak,^[b](B) Jephthah^(C) and Samuel,^[c](D) and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety.

Samuel’s Farewell Speech

12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened^(A) to everything you said to me and have set a king^(B) over you.

¹⁰ The Spirit of the Lord came on him,^(A) so that he became Israel’s judge^[a] and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim^(B) king of Aram^(C) into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. ¹¹ So the land had peace^(D) for forty years,^(E) until Othniel son of Kenaz^(F) died.