Israel’s Demand for a King

8 When Samuel grew old he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. ² The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. ³ But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after gain, they took bribes, and they perverted justice.

⁴ So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said to him, “Look, you are old and your sons do not follow in your ways. So then appoint a king for us to judge^[a] us, like all the nations. ⁶ But the matter was displeasing to Samuel^[b] when they said, “Give us a king to judge^[c] us,” so Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

⁷ Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people concerning all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. ⁸ Like all the deeds they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt until this day, they have forsaken me and have served other gods—so they are doing to you also. ⁹ And so then, listen to their voice. However, you must earnestly warn them; you must explain to them the custom of the king who will rule over them.”