1
It happened, when Shemu'el was old, that he made his sons judges over Yisra'el.
2
Now the name of his firstborn was Yo'el; and the name of his second, Aviyah: they were judges in Be'er-Sheva.
3
His sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4
Then all the Zakenim of Yisra'el gathered themselves together, and came to Shemu'el to Ramah;
5
and they said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons don't walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6
But the thing displeased Shemu'el, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. Shemu'el prayed to the LORD.
7
The LORD said to Shemu'el, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.
8
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Mitzrayim even to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to you.
9
Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.
10
Shemu'el told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked of him a king.
11
He said, This will be the manner of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them to him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots;