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Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons are not walking in your ways. Now appoint a king for us so that he can judge[a] us like all the other nations.” But in Samuel’s eyes, their request to receive a king to judge them looked evil, so Samuel prayed to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:5 In the book of Judges, the concept of judging includes other ruling activities besides judicial functions.

So all the elders(A) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(B) They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(C) to lead[a](D) us, such as all the other nations(E) have.”

But when they said, “Give us a king(F) to lead us,” this displeased(G) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20