1. When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges in Israel.
2. The elder son was named Joel and the younger one Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
3. But they did not follow their father's example; they were interested only in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly.
4. Then all the leaders of Israel met together, went to Samuel in Ramah,
5. and said to him, “Look, you are getting old and your sons don't follow your example. So then, appoint a king to rule over us, so that we will have a king, as other countries have.”
6. Samuel was displeased with their request for a king; so he prayed to the Lord,
7. and the Lord said, “Listen to everything the people say to you. You are not the one they have rejected; I am the one they have rejected as their king.
8. Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have turned away from me and worshipped other gods; and now they are doing to you what they have always done to me.