We begin our study of the monarchy in ancient Israel with a brief overview of Israel's history and a study of the people's desire for a king to that they could be like the other nations around them. We consider what they were choosing to give up and what they desired to gain in having a king appointed for them. This session lays the ground work for the rest of our study, in which we will look at the ways in which Israel's kings - specifically Saul, David, and Solomon - are used in Scripture to reveal truth about the true King of kings.