1
Now when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2
The name of his first son was Joel and the name of his second Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3
And his sons did not go in his ways, but moved by the love of money took rewards, and were not upright in judging.
4
Then all the responsible men of Israel got together and went to Samuel at Ramah,
5
And said to him, See now, you are old, and your sons do not go in your ways: give us a king now to be our judge, so that we may be like the other nations.
6
But Samuel was not pleased when they said to him, Give us a king to be our judge. And Samuel made prayer to the Lord.
7
And the Lord said to Samuel, Give ear to the voice of the people and what they say to you: they have not been turned away from you, but they have been turned away from me, not desiring me to be king over them.
8
As they have done from the first, from the day when I took them out of Egypt till this day, turning away from me and worshipping other gods, so now they are acting in the same way to you.
9
Give ear now to their voice: but make a serious protest to them, and give them a picture of the sort of king who will be their ruler.
10
And Samuel said all these words of the Lord to the people who were desiring a king.