1 Samuel 10:8 kjv
And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.
1 Samuel 10:8 nkjv
You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do."
1 Samuel 10:8 niv
"Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do."
1 Samuel 10:8 esv
Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do."
1 Samuel 10:8 nlt
Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions."
1 Samuel 10 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 7:16 | And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel.. | Gilgal as Samuel's administrative and religious center |
| 1 Sam 13:8 | And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not.. | Saul's partial obedience to the specified waiting time |
| 1 Sam 13:9 | And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. | Saul's disobedience by taking over Samuel's priestly role |
| 1 Sam 13:13-14 | And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment… | Consequences of Saul's failure: loss of dynasty |
| Gen 22:2-3 | Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest… So Abraham rose up early.. | Example of immediate obedience to a divine command |
| Exod 18:15 | And when my father in law said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people?… | Seeking God's counsel through appointed leadership |
| Num 27:21 | He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of the Urim.. | Seeking God's guidance through established means |
| Deut 8:2 | And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee.. | God tests His people to reveal their hearts and obedience |
| Psa 27:14 | Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. | Exhortation to patient waiting on God |
| Psa 37:7 | Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth.. | Trust and patient expectation of God's action |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him.. | Reliance on God's wisdom rather than self-will |
| Isa 30:18 | And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you… Blessed are all they that wait for Him. | God's blessing for those who wait patiently |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. | God reveals His plans through His prophets |
| Jer 7:22-23 | For I spake not unto your fathers… concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice.. | Obedience is valued by God more than ritual |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. | God's preference for true devotion over mere ritual |
| Mic 6:8 | He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly.. | Requirement for humble obedience to God's will |
| Matt 5:17 | Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. | Jesus affirming the continuity of God's revealed will |
| John 14:26 | But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance.. | Holy Spirit guides believers in the New Covenant |
| Gal 4:4 | But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.. | Emphasizing God's precise and perfect timing |
| Jas 1:3-4 | Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work.. | Testing of faith leads to perseverance |
| Heb 9:12 | Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.. | Christ's perfect sacrifice fulfilling Old Covenant types |
| Heb 10:1-10 | For the law having a shadow of good things to come… by the which will we are sanctified through the offering.. | Old Testament sacrifices prefiguring Christ's ultimate sacrifice |
1 Samuel 10 verses
1 Samuel 10 8 Meaning
1 Samuel 10:8 presents a clear, precise instruction from the prophet Samuel to Saul, the newly anointed king. It directs Saul to go to Gilgal and wait there for seven days. During this waiting period, Samuel pledges to join him, bringing with him the specific offerings of burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. The ultimate purpose of this commanded wait and joint offering was for Samuel to then provide Saul with crucial divine guidance for his impending responsibilities and actions as king.
1 Samuel 10 8 Context
1 Samuel 10:8 follows Samuel's private anointing of Saul as king (1 Sam 10:1) and the preceding confirmations of Saul's divine election through specific signs. This particular command is part of a detailed set of instructions Samuel gives Saul regarding his immediate future. It is not an arbitrary directive but a test of Saul's newfound loyalty, patience, and submission to divine authority. The location, Gilgal, holds significant historical and religious importance as Israel's first encampment in the Promised Land and a place of covenant renewal and spiritual significance, frequently visited by Samuel. This instruction establishes that despite his anointing, Saul's authority remains subordinate to God's and must be exercised under prophetic guidance. Crucially, this command directly foreshadows Saul's subsequent fatal disobedience in 1 Samuel 13, where he fails this test of patient obedience, ultimately leading to the rejection of his kingdom.
1 Samuel 10 8 Word analysis
- And thou shalt go down (וְיָרַדְתָּ - wəyāradtā): This phrase begins with a strong conjunction and a perfect consecutive verb, rendering it a direct, unnegotiable command from Samuel. The verb yarad means "to go down" or "to descend," which may relate to the topography (Gilgal often being at a lower elevation than Saul's typical locations) or simply indicate a journey to the specific destination. It conveys that Saul is to make the journey and arrive first.
- before me: This phrase indicates that Saul is to precede Samuel and await his arrival, emphasizing Samuel's senior authority and the requirement for Saul to be present and prepared for the meeting under Samuel's initiation.
- to Gilgal (הַגִּלְגָּלָה - haggilgalāh): A critical geographic and symbolic location. Gilgal (meaning "a circle of stones" or "rolling") was where Israel first camped after crossing the Jordan (Josh 4:19), circumcised the new generation (Josh 5:2-9, rolling away the reproach), and celebrated the first Passover in the land. It represented Israel's covenant foundation, renewed identity, and served as a significant center for assemblies and Samuel's circuits.
- and, behold (וְהִנֵּה - wəhinnēh): An interjection used to capture attention, signaling an important, certain event about to be stated—Samuel's assured arrival.
- I will come down unto thee: This affirms Samuel's commitment to the meeting, further solidifying his active role and authority in providing direction for the new king.
- to offer burnt offerings (לְהַעֲלוֹת עוֹלוֹת - ləhaʿălōt ʿōlôt): Burnt offerings (ʿōlôt) were voluntary sacrifices where the entire animal was consumed on the altar (Lev 1). They symbolized complete dedication to God, propitiation, and atonement for unintentional sins, expressing absolute devotion and submission to divine will.
- and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings (וְלִזְבֹּחַ זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים - wəlizbōaḥ zivḥê šəlāmîm): Peace offerings (šəlāmîm) were also voluntary, symbolizing communion, thanksgiving, or the fulfillment of vows (Lev 3, 7). Parts were consumed on the altar, parts by the priests, and the remainder by the offerers and their company, signifying fellowship between God and His people, and seeking His favor or "peace" (shalom).
- seven days (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים - šivʿat yāmîm): The specific duration. The number "seven" in the Bible often signifies completion, divine perfection, covenant, or a full cycle. This exact time frame makes the waiting a clear, measurable test of obedience, trust, and patience.
- shalt thou tarry (תּוֹחֵל - tôḥēl): Means "you shall wait" or "you shall expect patiently." It conveys a requirement for endurance and active anticipation, not just passive delay. This waiting is critical.
- till I come to thee: This re-emphasizes Samuel's authority as the divinely appointed figure to perform the sacrifices and provide instructions, making Saul's waiting contingent on Samuel's arrival, not on a self-imposed deadline.
- and show thee what thou shalt do: This reveals the ultimate purpose of the entire directive: to impart specific, God-given instructions and guidance for Saul's actions as king. It underlines that Saul's reign, though sovereign in human terms, was fundamentally accountable to God's direction, mediated through the prophet.
1 Samuel 10 8 Bonus section
- Symbolism of the Sacrifices: Beyond their ritualistic function, the ʿōlôt (burnt offerings) symbolized complete dedication, crucial for a king ruling under God, while the šəlāmîm (peace offerings) emphasized reconciliation, well-being, and a shared meal, signifying the importance of maintaining proper fellowship with God and seeking His favor for the kingdom. These were not optional; they were spiritual prerequisites for divine guidance.
- Divine Timing vs. Human Impatience: The core lesson of the "seven days" lies in God's insistence on His perfect timing. Saul's impatience and his perceived need to act immediately, rather than waiting on the Lord, proved to be his critical flaw. This scenario serves as a powerful biblical illustration against human haste and the temptation to take matters into one's own hands instead of trusting God's appointed means and moments.
- Continuity of Spiritual Authority: This verse clearly establishes that even with the advent of monarchy, the prophetic office remained God's primary means of communicating His will and exercising spiritual oversight in Israel. The king was never above the prophetic word, signifying that true power resides with God alone and is conveyed through His designated messengers.
1 Samuel 10 8 Commentary
1 Samuel 10:8 is a foundational directive for Saul's nascent kingship, testing his character before he assumes full public leadership. Samuel's command mandates patient obedience and absolute reliance on God's chosen channel (the prophet) for divine guidance and blessing. By requiring Saul to wait for the performance of essential sacrifices (burnt and peace offerings) by Samuel, God emphasized the spiritual foundations of kingship and His supreme authority over it. The "seven days" served as a deliberate trial, examining Saul's trust, self-control, and willingness to yield to God's timing rather than his own initiative. Saul's subsequent failure to fully comply with this precise instruction (1 Sam 13), impetuously taking on a priestly role and sacrificing himself, proved to be a critical misstep that underscored his unfitness for sustained rule and initiated his tragic downfall, showing that obedience is more important than impulsive action or ritualistic form.