ght grow into a tyrant, at first did not want to go along with the Israelites about having a king.
Consequently, Samuel only gave in when a constitution was created with strictly defined and restricted the royal powers and authority. Samuel then included this code in 'a book', which he placed before God for the direction of future kings of Israel: "Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship; and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord" (1 Samuel 10:25).
And so, Saul was selected as the first king of Israel. Saul also was perhaps the first constitutional king in history.
But Saul did not satisfy the tremendous expectations vested in him. Yet, through his patriotism and courage, Saul freed the Israelites from the Philistine stranglehold, and secured a considerable amount of unity among the rival Hebrew tribes. But it was David who really solidified the Israelites, and far outdistanced Saul in accomplishments for his people.
David was secretly anointed king by Samuel while Saul was still on the throne: "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah" (1 Samuel 11:13).
Israel's golden era began with David, the successor of Saul. David, with considerable efficiency, rallied the tribes about him. By a series of brilliant military triumphs, David extended the kingdom of Israel from Phoenicia in the west to the Arabian Desert in the east, and from the River Orontes in th
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