May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!”

So Samuel led Israel all the days of his life.

In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”

May the Lord judge between the two of us, and may the Lord vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you.

Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places.

Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built an altar to the Lord there.

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 us, just like all the other nations have.”

But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.

Now take your positions, so I may confront you before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors.

You should tell him that I am about to judge his house forever because of the sin that he knew about. For his sons were cursing God, and he did not rebuke them.

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward from his chair beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.

After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted on that day, and they confessed there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” So Samuel led the people of Israel at Mizpah.