Ramah, c. 1050 BC

(1 Samuel 8)

GROWING popular demand for a centralised monarchy has become so strong in Israel that a delegation of leaders from all 12 tribes has presented an official request for one to Samuel.

The demand stems partly from a sense of déjà-vu which is troubling many in Israel today.

Samuel is now elderly and has nominated his sons as his successors as judge. But like Eli before him, Samuel has the sadness of knowing that his sons are corrupt and far from honouring Yahweh.

Future-watchers with a sense of history are remembering the bad old days when Israel had no central leadership of any kind. Some suggest that nations with kings do better in battle.

Samuel sees the request as a rejection of all he has done for the people. But he is more grieved that the people are rejecting Yahweh as their King and leader, in preference for a human monarch.

He has warned the elders that God says that a human king will rule harshly, will over-tax his people, will restrict their liberty, extort, oppress them, and not listen to their pleas for relief.

But they are in no mood to listen. Strangely, Yahweh appears to be sympathetic despite the evident rejection of the ideal of theocracy, a state ruled by religious agreement. It is rumoured that he has authorised Samuel to appoint a king.