Israel Asks for a King
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.
2
The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.
3
But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5
They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
6
But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
7
And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
8
As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
9
Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”