1 Samuel 8:1–5

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.”