1
When Sh'mu'el grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Isra'el.
2
His firstborn was named Yo'el, while his second son was named Aviyah; they were judges in Be'er-Sheva.
3
However, his sons did not follow his way of life; they turned off it to pursue riches, so that they would take bribes to distort justice.
4
All the leaders of Isra'el gathered themselves together, approached Sh'mu'el in Ramah
5
and said to him, "Look, you have grown old, and your sons are not following your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."
6
Sh'mu'el was not pleased to hear them say, "Give us a king to judge us"; so he prayed to ADONAI.
7
ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, "Listen to the people, to everything they say to you; for it is not you they are rejecting; they are rejecting me; they don't want me to be king over them.
8
They are doing to you exactly what they have been doing to me, from the day I brought them out of Egypt until today, by abandoning me and serving other gods.
9
So do what they say, but give them a sober warning, telling them what kinds of rulings their king will make."
10
Sh'mu'el reported everything ADONAI had said to the people asking him for a king.