The early Israelites wanted a king like other nations so they can be judged. Before that they had judges but the judges were corrupt.
Samuel didn’t like the idea but prayed to God for help anyway. This is what God told Samuel:
Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
8:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
8:14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. [my emphasis]
8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. [my emphasis]
8:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. [my emphasis]
Let me make some observations about the passage above.
First the Israelites were being influenced by peer pressure. All other nations had kings so why can’t we? I mean if its good for them won’t having a king be good for us? People are people.
Secondly, God understood human nature very well. He knew about power corrupting. Look at the phrases I emphasized. Don’t they sound like socialism or at least fascism? God said the king will take not ask for volunteers to serve him. Not ask for food contributions but take whatever he needs. After all if he is the king then God will bless any actions he does even if God doesn’t bless them. All is needed is for the king to believe his actions are blessed. Because he is anointed.
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