Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel:

The Lord called to Samuel, and he replied, “Here I am!”

However, Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He replied, “Here I am.”

Then Samuel called the people together before the Lord at Mizpah.

Then the Lord came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening!”

But this request displeased Samuel, for ¹  they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.

Now the boy Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the Lord and with people.

So Samuel led ¹  Israel all the days of his life.

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.

So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn ¹  and Abijah the second oldest.

He waited for seven days, the time period indicated by Samuel. ¹  But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army began to abandon Saul. ² 

Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” ¹ 

So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the Lord and Samuel.

Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel. ¹  But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”

Now David had run away and escaped. He went to Samuel in Ramah and told him everything that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth.

Samuel continued to grow, and the Lord was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled. ¹ 

But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. ¹  Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!

The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they say ¹  and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”

So Samuel took a nursing lamb ¹  and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.