1 Samuel 8:1-7

Israel Asks for a King 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. Traditionally judges 2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.

3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20 us, such as all the other nations have.” 6But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD . 7And 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.