Israel’s Demand for a King

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.(A) His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.(B) However, his sons did not walk in his ways—they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.(C)

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.(D) They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”(E)

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