1 Samuel 8:1-9
Israel Demands a King

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

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2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beersheba.

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3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

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5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

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6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

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7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

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8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

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9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

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