Study Desk

And it happened when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

And the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiah, judges in Beer-sheba.

And his sons did not walk in his ways, and turned aside after dishonest gain, and took a bribe, and perverted judgment.

And all the elders of Israel gathered and came in to Samuel, to Ramah.

And they said to him, Behold, you have become old, and your sons have not walked in your ways. Now appoint a king to us, to judge us, like all the nations.

And the thing was evil in Samuel's eyes when they said, Give to us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.

And Jehovah said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people, to all that they say to you. For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.

According to all the works that they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day, when they forsook Me and served other gods, so they are also doing to you.

And now listen to their voice. Only, protesting you shall protest to them, and shall declare to them the privilege of the king who shall reign over them.