1 Samuel 8:1-7

Israel Seeks a King

8:1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 8:2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba. 8:3 But his sons did not follow ¹  his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice. ² 

8:4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah. 8:5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead ³  us, just like all the other nations have.”

8:6 But this request displeased Samuel, for ⁴  they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 8:7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. ⁵  For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.

[8:3]  ¹ tn Heb “walk in” (also in v. 5).

[8:3]  ² tn Heb “and they turned aside after unjust gain and took bribes and perverted justice.”

[8:5]  ³ tn Heb “judge” (also in v. 6).

[8:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “when.”

[8:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “Listen to the voice of the people, to all which they say to you.”