Why did Samuel regard Israel’s request for a king as unfaithfulness to Yahweh?

In the anti-monarchic tradition of the First Book of Samuel, Samuel viewed the elders' request for a king as an act of rebellion against Yahweh, the God of Israel.1

Samuel interpreted the demand for a monarchy as a rejection of the existing system of leadership, which was rooted in the tribal confederacy and divine guidance through judges. By seeking a king, the Israelites were effectively turning away from Yahweh’s direct rule in favor of a worldly political system that Samuel warned would lead to the loss of their freedom and the imposition of heavy taxes in goods and services. This request was seen as a manifestation of the people's worldliness rather than a response to the failure of the judgeship system.12

Ultimately, Samuel’s stance reflected a deep-seated religious and national conservatism that viewed the establishment of a centralized monarchy as alien to Israel's established traditions.1