Is having a king a positive or negative situation? What type of person is fit to be a king? By exploring the characters of Gideon and Shaul we can learn an important message as to the crucial qualities of a successful king of the Jewish nation, and the reasons why they did not succeed as ideal leaders, but rather laid the groundwork for the successful kings that followed them. 

Additional References
Shmuel I 12, 8- 13; Shmuel I 9, 1 -10
Yemei Iyun be-Tanakh - תש"ע