1. When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2. His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.
3. However, his sons did not walk in his ways — they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.
5. They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your example. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”
6. When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the Lord.