1 When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges in Israel.
2 The elder son was named Joel and the younger one Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
3 But they did not follow their father's example; they were interested only in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly.
4 Then all the leaders of Israel met together, went to Samuel in Ramah,
5 and said to him, “Look, you are getting old and your sons don't follow your example. So then, appoint a king to rule over us, so that we will have a king, as other countries have.”
6 Samuel was displeased with their request for a king; so he prayed to the Lord,
7 and the Lord said, “Listen to everything the people say to you. You are not the one they have rejected; I am the one they have rejected as their king.