Another interpretation, “I will install a king over me” – the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘In this world, you requested kings, and the kings of Israel arose and caused you to be felled by the sword.’ Saul caused them to be felled on Mount Gilboa. From where is this learned? “Israel has fled before the Philistines…” (I Samuel 4:17).
David brought about a plague, as it is stated: “The Lord sent pestilence in Israel” (II Samuel 24:15). Ahab caused the rain to stop falling for them, as it is stated: “There will not be dew or rain during these years…” (I Kings 17:1). Zedekiah caused the Temple to be destroyed. When Israel saw what befell them under the rule of their kings, they all began crying out: ‘We do not want a king of Israel, we want our original King: “For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us”’ (Isaiah 33:22).
The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘By your lives, I will do so.’ From where is this derived? “The Lord will be King over the entire earth…” (Zechariah 14:9).