1  And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2  And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba. 3  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

4  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah, 5  and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations. 6  And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah. 7  And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8  According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9  And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.