ahead and appoint a king, assuring him, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them” (8:7). Samuel solemnly warned the people of all the new burdens a monarchy would bring, but the people persisted in their desire for a king (8:10–22). The Lord chose Saul, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, to be Israel’s first king. Saul stood taller than any of the people and really looked like he would make a good king. Through circumstances God carefully guided, Samuel met Saul