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.
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.”