A paragraph from my assignment to chew on:
I would suggest that in the same way as Eli was judged for not giving God what was due him, so the people are also judged in being given Saul as their king. It is worth noting that despite Saul having already been chosen by Yhwh and pointed out to Samuel, Samuel nevertheless goes through a process of drawing lots in order to determine who will be king. McCarter perceptively notes that Samuel introduces this process as divine judgement. This aura of judgement is further enhanced by its similarity to the judgement scene in Joshua 7, when Achan’s family was taken in an identical process of lots. The inter-textual reference is confirmed later when Saul himself follows in Achan’s sin and disobeys God’s commands with respect to the devoted things (kherem). Thus we are invited to see the appointment of Saul as a judgement on the people for their rejection of Yhwh.