The People Ask for a King

At this time Samuel the priest ruled over the Hebrews, and since all war had stopped, the people lived in peace. But this calm was broken by an invasion of the Philistines, and every rank of the people was terrified, conscious of its guilt. Samuel first offered sacrifice and, trusting in God, led his men out to battle. The enemy was routed at the first charge, and victory went to the Hebrews. [a]

But when the fear of the enemy had been removed in this way, and affairs were now prosperous and peaceful, the people changed their views for the worse. In the manner of the mob, which is always tired of what it has and longs for what it has never tried, they expressed a desire for the name of king, a name greatly disliked by almost all free nations. Yes, in a very remarkable example of madness, they now preferred to trade freedom for slavery. So they came in great numbers to Samuel, asking that, since he was now an old man, he would make a king for them. But he tried, in a helpful speech, to turn the people quietly away from their insane desire. He described the tyranny and arrogant rule of kings, while he praised freedom and denounced slavery. Finally he threatened them with the wrath of God if they showed themselves so corrupt in mind that, having God as their king, they would demand a human king for themselves. When he had said these and other things of the same kind to no purpose, and found that the people held to their determination, he consulted God. And God, moved by the madness of that insane nation, replied that nothing should be refused them when they asked for what was against their own interests.