"And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment." — 1 Samuel 8:3

1 Samuel 8:3 · KJV

“And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.”

— 1 Samuel 8:3

Verse 2

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: {they were} judges in Beersheba.

Verse 4

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

1 Samuel 8 — Context

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: {they were} judges in Beersheba.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Cross References

Deuteronomy 16:19

Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. {words: or, matters}

Psalms 15:5

{He that} putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these {things} shall never be moved.

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {erred: or, been seduced}

Exodus 18:21

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place {such} over them, {to be} rulers of thousands, {and} rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Exodus 23:8

And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. {the wise: Heb. the seeing}

Isaiah 33:15

He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; {righteously: Heb. in righteousnesses} {uprightly: Heb. uprightnesses} {oppressions: or, deceits} {blood: Heb. bloods}

2 Samuel 15:4

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

1 Timothy 3:3

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; {given...: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine}

Read 1 Samuel 8 Explore Topics