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. 8:8 Just as they have done 6 from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. 8:9 So now do as they say. 7 But seriously warn 8 them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.” 9
8:10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.
1 tn Heb “walk in” (also in v. 5).
2 tn Heb “and they turned aside after unjust gain and took bribes and perverted justice.”
3 tn Heb “judge” (also in v. 6).
4 tn Heb “when.”
5 tn Heb “Listen to the voice of the people, to all which they say to you.”
6 tn Heb “according to all the deeds which they have done.”
7 tn Heb “and now, listen to their voice.”
8 tn The infinitive absolute appears before the imperative for emphasis.
9 tn Heb “and tell them the manner of the king who will rule over them.”