Why did the elders of Israel ask Samuel for a king?
The elders asked Samuel for a king because he was old, his sons did not walk in his ways or share his relationship with Jehovah, and they wanted to be ruled like all the surrounding nations. Their request reflected a desire to conform rather than remain the set-apart, sanctified people God had called Israel to be.
Les explains that the elders of Israel gathered at Ramah and told Samuel he was old and his sons did not walk in his ways—they were not in relationship with Jehovah as Samuel was. They demanded, "Make us a king to judge or rule us like all the other nations around us." Les points out that God had mandated Israel to be different, a set-apart and sanctified people, not like the rest of the nations. But now they wanted to be like everybody else, saying, "They've all got a king. We want a king." Samuel was heartbroken, and when he prayed, Jehovah told him to hearken to the people's voice, for they had not rejected Samuel but Jehovah. Les notes that Israel knew the surrounding nations with their kings were pagan idolaters, yet Israel still wanted to be like them, even though only Israel had knowledge of the one true God.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
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