1. And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2. And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba.
3. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah,
5. and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations.
6. And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.
7. And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8. According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9. And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10. And Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king.
11. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;