1 And it came to be, when Shemu’ĕl was old, that he made his sons rulers over Yisra’ĕl.
2 And the name of his first-born was Yo’ĕl, and the name of his second, Aḇiyah, rulers in Be’ĕrsheḇa.
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways, and turned aside after own gain, and took bribes, and twisted right-ruling.
4 And all the elders of Yisra’ĕl gathered together and came to Shemu’ĕl at Ramah,
5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a sovereign to rule us like all the nations.”
6 But the word was evil in the eyes of Shemu’ĕl when they said, “Give us a sovereign to rule us.” So Shemu’ĕl prayed to יהוה.
7 And יהוה said to Shemu’ĕl, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.