Israel Asks for a King

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointedp his sons as Israel’s leaders.a 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,q and they served at Beersheba.r 3 But his sonss did not follow his ways. They turned asidet after dishonest gain and accepted bribesu and pervertedv justice.

4 So all the eldersw of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.x 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a kingy to leadb z us, such as all the other nationsa have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a kingb to lead us,” this displeasedc Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listend to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,e but they have rejected me as their king.f 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsakingg me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them knowh what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”