² The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,^(A) and they served at Beersheba.^{(B) 3} But his sons^(C) did not follow his ways. They turned aside^(D) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes^(E) and perverted^(F) justice.

⁴ So all the elders^(G) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.^{(H) 5} They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king^(I) to lead^[a](J) us, such as all the other nations^(K) have.”