Midrash su I Samuele 4:17

Alternatively: (Deuteronomy 17:14) "And you will say, 'I will appoint for me a king..." - Our rabbis said: Said the Holy One, blessed be He, "You want kings in this world. Jewish kings will be appointed, and they will make you fall by the sword." Shaul caused them to fall at Mt. HaGilboa. How do we know? (I Samuel 4:17) "And Israel fled from before the Philistines..." David caused a plague to be sent, as it says, (II Samuel 24:15) "And God sent a pestilence to Israel..." Achav stopped up the rains from them, as it says (I Kings 17:1) "...there shall not be dew nor rain these years..." Tzidkiyahu caused the destruction of the Holy Temple. Once Israel saw what happens under the rule of their kings, they all began to cry out, "We don't want a king of Israel! We want our furst King: (Isaiah 33:22) "For God is our judge, God is our law-giver, God is our king, He will save us!" The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "By your lives, thus will I do." How do we know? As it says, (Zachariah 14:9) "And God will be the king over all the earth..."

(Devarim 20:9) "And it shall be, when the officers finish speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders at the head of the people," and at the rear of the people. Sentinels armed with iron staves are posted before and behind them with the authority to "cripple" all who desire to flee, for the beginning of defeat is flight, as it is written (I Samuel 4:17) "Israel fled before the Philistines, and a great 'plague' overtook the people." When is this so? (that all of the aforementioned return?) In an optional war; but in a mandatory war, all go out, even a groom from his chamber and a bride from her bridal canopy.