What does 1 Samuel 8:4 mean?

Before the time of the kings in Israel, this verse pictures the best version of Israel's political structure. If the elders of Israel wanted to suggest a change, they would bring their request to the one the Lord appointed as His representative. This was because the Lord was the true King of Israel with direct rule over them. These elders presumably included representatives from the tribes of Israel. It may also have included men who governed certain territories. In this case, they brought their request to Samuel: both judge over Israel and a prophet of God (1 Samuel 3:19–21; 7:15–17). Ramah was not the capital of Israel, but it had become an important religious site because it was Samuel's hometown (1 Samuel 7:17).

Interestingly, the elders of Israel request a change to the very system of government they were using to make their request. They wanted God's spokesperson to replace himself with a king (1 Samuel 8:5).