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When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges in Israel.
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The older son was named Joel and the younger one Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
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But they did not follow their father's example; they were interested only in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly.
4
Then all the leaders of Israel met together, went to Samuel in Ramah,
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and said to him, "Look, you are getting old and your sons don't follow your example. So then, appoint a king to rule over us, so that we will have a king, as other countries have."
1
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Samuel was displeased with their request for a king; so he prayed to the Lord,
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and the Lord said, "Listen to everything the people say to you. You are not the one they have rejected; I am the one they have rejected as their king.
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Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have turned away from me and worshiped other gods; and now they are doing to you what they have always done to me.
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So then, listen to them, but give them strict warnings and explain how their kings will treat them."
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Samuel told the people who were asking him for a king everything that the Lord had said to him.