Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

1 Samuel 7
¹³ So the Philistines were subdued and didn’t invade Israel again for some time. And throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the LORD’s powerful hand was raised against the Philistines.
¹⁴ The Israelite villages near Ekron and Gath that the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, along with the rest of the territory that the Philistines had taken. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites in those days.
¹⁵ Samuel continued as Israel’s judge for the rest of his life.
¹⁶ Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places.
¹⁷ Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the LORD at Ramah.
1 Samuel 8
¹ As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.
² Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.
³ But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
⁴ Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.
⁵ “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
⁶ Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance.