2. Another cause was the =consolidation of the surrounding nations=. In the days of the conquest there were few kings in the lands neighboring Pa'les-tine. We read of "lords" and "elders," but no kings, among the Phi-lis'tines, the Mo'ab-ites, the Am'mon-ites, and the Phoe-ni'cians (Judg. 3. 3; 1 Sam. 5. 8; Num. 22. 7). But a wave of revolution swept over all those lands, and very soon we find that every nation around Is'ra-el had its king (1 Sam. 21. 10; 12. 12; 22. 3; 2 Sam. 5. 11). The movement of Is'ra-el toward monarchy was in accordance with this spirit. 3. There was a =danger of invasion=, which impelled the Is'ra-el-ites to seek for a stronger government (1 Sam. 12. 12). They felt themselves weak, while other nations were organized for conquest, and desired a king for leader in war. 4. Then, too, the =rule of Sam'u-el= led the Is'ra-el-ites to desire a better organization of the government. For a generation they had enjoyed the benefit of a wise, strong, and steady rule. They felt unwilling to risk the dangers of tribal dissension after the death of Sam'u-el, and therefore they sought for a king. 5. But underlying all was the =worldly ambition= of the people. They were not willing to remain the people of God and work out a peculiar destiny. They wished to be like the nations around, to establish a secular state, to conquer an empire for themselves (1 Sam 8. 5-20). It was this worldly spirit, whose results Sam'u-el saw, which made him unwilling to accede to the wish of the Is'ra-el-ites. But the very things against which he warned them (1 Sam. 8. 11-18) were just what they desired. II. =The Character of the Is'ra-el-ite Kingdom.= When men change their plans God changes his. He desired Is'ra-el to remain a republic, and not to enter into worldly relations and aims. When, however, the Is'ra-el-ites were determined God gave them a king (1 Sam. 8. 22); but his rule was not to be like that of the nations around Is'ra-el. We ascertain the divine ideal of a kingdom for his chosen people: 1. =It was a theocratic kingdom.= That is, it recognized God as the supreme ruler, and the king as his representative, to rule in accordance with his will, and not by his own right. Only as people and king conformed to this principle could the true aims of the kingdom be accomplished (1 Sam. 12. 13-15). And if the king should deviate from this order he should lose his throne. Disobedience to the divine will caused the kingdom to pass from the family of Saul to that of Da'vid (1 Sam. 13. 13, 14; 15. 26).