The people of Israel were ruled and governed by judges upon settling in Canaan land. During this period, tribal leadership took shape in Israel. Therefore, Israel was ruled on a loose confederation as each tribe acted with its own political officials.

However, the neighbouring nations were monarchial states. They had a centralized system of governance with kings as the emblem of power.

Consequently, Israel found herself faced with challenges of survival. First, she became too weak to face her enemies especially the Philistines.

In response to the prevailing challenges, the leaders in Israel demanded that Samuel appoint for them an earthly king whom they thought would give solutions to their problems.

THE DEMAND FOR A KING IN ISRAEL

(1 Samuel 8:1ff)

Samuel appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah as judges to rule Israel as he grew older. Unfortunately his sons failed to follow his example. They accepted bribes as they were only interested in making money to the disappointment of the people of Israel. Because of this and other reasons, they approached Samuel to appoint for them an earthly king.

REASONS TO JUSTIFY ISRAEL'S DEMAND FOR A KING IN ISRAEL

Kingship was willed by God himself. When their ancestors were still in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, God gave Moses some instructions concerning their future king. He also revealed to Eli that He would give His chosen priest descendants to serve in the presence of His chosen king (Deuteronomy 17: 14-20 and 1 Samuel 2:35).

The leaders argued that Samuel was growing old. This meant that they needed a young and energetic person to lead them.

Besides, the leaders reasoned that the two sons of Samuel had failed to copy his good example. They accepted bribes as they were only interested in making money thus the people had now lost trust and confidence in them.

Samuel had also appointed his sons as judges without consulting them and God. His action meant that he was attempting to change the charismatic leadership into a hereditary one.

The people of Israel wanted a leader they could see and talk to. The God who was ruling them was invisible. Therefore, they could not present their issues to him physically.

The leaders of Israel wanted to be like the neighbouring nations which were being ruled by kings. In other words, they desired to have a centralized form of leadership just like their neighbours.

The people of Israel wanted someone who could lead them in fighting their enemies who were over attacking them.

The Israelite thought that the king would provide immediate answers and solutions to their problems. This was against the background that God was taking long to respond to their needs.

The people of Israel thought their neighbours could recognize and respect them by having an earthly king just like them.

Besides, the Israelites wanted a leader who could promote, administer and maintain justice among them. They were already disappointed by the sons of Samuel who were dishonest.

The leaders in Israel argued that the existing social and economic structure could no longer provide food for the growing population of Israel. Therefore, they thought that a centralized structure would cater for such a problem.

The Israelites argued that the king would only be God's representative among them. This meant that kingship would not replace the theocratic nature of their nation.

The Israelites wanted to prosper like their neighbours who had king as their leaders. Most probably, they could have thought that a king could guide them towards prosperity.

The Israelites argued that the king would only act as a mediator between them and their God. This in effect could allow the priest to concentrate on their religious duties.

The Israelites were living under the threats posed by the Philistines. They were over attacking them and had always given them orders to do whatever they wanted. Therefore, they thought that an earthly king could help them defeat the Philistines.

Revision Questions

1.          Justify Israel's demand for an earthly king

2.          Account for the demand for an earthly king among the people of Israel.

3.          "The demand for a king in Israel was occasioned by the threat of the Philistines." Discuss.

4.          To what extent did the Philistines threat occasion the demand for an earthly king in Israel?

•              The Philistines were militarily stronger than Israel and any other nation

•              The Philistines had border conflict with the Israelites

•              They used to provoke Israel into war every now and then

•              The Philistines used to give orders to the people of Israel in order to show their might    .

•              The Philistines could attack the people of Israel constantly

•              They had defeated Israel in most of their military confrontations

•              The Philistines had even captured the covenant box

•              They had also killed the two sons of Eli meaning that no one was safe

•              The Philistines had monopolized iron work for making weapons

•              The giant Philistines man, Goliath had always challenged Israel

SAMUEL'S REACTION TOWARDS ISRAEL'S DEMAND OF AN EARTHLY KING

Samuel was displeased that the Israelites had requested him to appoint an earthly king for them. Probably, he never at all expected such to come from them.

Samuel expected the people of Israel to have consulted him before coming up with such a request.

Samuel took the request for a king as personal rejection. To him, the people looked to be against his leadership since he had already appointed his sons as judges to take over from him.

Besides, Israel's request for a king meant that they had rejected their theocratic background. However, this was an act of disobedience.

Samuel noted that the request for a king was an act of disobedience towards the covenant relationship. God had promised to be their father only if they would obey Him.

Samuel told Israel that the request to have a king was pre-mature. He justified it that God had always provided for them even without their request. This meant that if God wanted them to have a king He knew the time he would give them.

Samuel felt that it was useless for Israel to copy other nations since they were the chosen people of God. Instead, they were to act as examples to other people.

Besides, the people of Israel had failed to appreciate what God had been doing or them. He had brought them out of Egypt and given them the Promised Land among others.

Samuel felt that the people had lost trust, confidence in and patience with their own God. Samuel thought that priesthood had to be hereditary. Therefore, he was right to have appointed his sons to take over from him.

Samuel could have felt that the institution of kingship was something foreign and new to the people of Israel. Therefore, it would introduce a new political and social set up which the people were not used to.

Samuel consulted God through prayer asking Him to look into the people's request for a king as their ruler.

Samuel warned the Israelites about the misconduct of and the dangers of being ruled by an earthly king.

Revision questions

1.          Account for Samuel's response towards the demand for an earthly king in Israel

2.          Why was Samuel displeased with Israel's request for a king?