MPV Commentary

Samuel addressed all of Israel, saying:

This public address took place after Saul had been reinstated as king and before the convention at Gilgal separated. Samuel had challenged a review of his life's work, and he received unanimous testimony to the integrity of his personal character and the justice of his administration.

The Lord is witness against you, and so is my anointing - this acknowledged that they had given him no reason to doubt their loyalty to God's government through judges. By their own admission, the blame for wanting a change in government rested with them alone.