1 Samuel 8:1-9

Living Bible

8 In his old age, Samuel retired and appointed his sons as judges in his place. ² Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba; ³ but they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and were very corrupt in the administration of justice. ⁴ Finally the leaders of Israel met in Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. ⁵ They told him that since his retirement things hadn’t been the same, for his sons were not good men.

“Give us a king like all the other nations have,” they pleaded. ⁶ Samuel was terribly upset and went to the Lord for advice.

⁷ “Do as they say,” the Lord replied, “for I am the one they are rejecting, not you—they don’t want me to be their king any longer. ⁸ Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. ⁹ Do as they ask, but warn them about what it will be like to have a king!”