You're probably NOT reading the old testament right: - 1 Samuel 8:10–18: The text explicitly states that if the people demand a king, "he will take your sons... and some shall run before his chariots," and "ye shall be his servants," concluding that "the LORD will not hear you in that day." - Jeremiah 23:1–4: The prophet declares "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture," condemning kings who fail to shepherd the people with justice. - Proverbs 29:2: This verse contrasts outcomes based on leadership quality, stating, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." - Proverbs 29:12: It warns that "If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked," highlighting the corrupting influence of unrighteous leadership.