Israel Demands a King

8 When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. ² The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. ³ His sons did not follow Samuel’s example.^[a] Instead, they pursued^[b] dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.^[c]

⁴ All the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They told him, “Look, you’re old, and your sons don’t follow your example.^[d] So appoint a king to govern us like all the other^[e] nations.” ⁶ Samuel was displeased^[f] when they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.

⁷ The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to the people^[g] in all that they say to you. In fact, it’s not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king. ⁸ Like all the things they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this very day, they have forsaken me and followed other gods. They’re also doing the same thing to you. ⁹ Now, listen to them, but you are to clearly warn them and inform them about how the king who rules over them will operate.”^[h]