Samuel was a good judge. When he got old, he delegated authority to his sons. They were not good judges. The people wanted a king, so they could be like the countries around them. At God's direction, Samuel anointed King Saul. He was a good king, for a while. Power has a tendency to corrupt men in power. Saul overstepped his authority. Then he disobeyed God. God directed Samuel to anoint a new king. That was David. But it would be years before David became king.