1 Samuel 13 8

1 Samuel 13:8 kjv

And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

1 Samuel 13:8 nkjv

Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

1 Samuel 13:8 niv

He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter.

1 Samuel 13:8 esv

He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.

1 Samuel 13:8 nlt

Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 8 Meaning

1 Samuel 13:8 describes King Saul's critical failure to obey God's command delivered through the prophet Samuel. Having been instructed by Samuel to wait seven days for his arrival before performing any sacrificial rituals, Saul, under pressure from a scattering army and an advancing Philistine threat, presumptuously offers the burnt offering himself. This act of disobedience, impatience, and usurpation of priestly duties marks a pivotal moment in his reign, signaling a lack of complete trust in God and Samuel's prophetic authority, and ultimately leading to his rejection as king.

1 Samuel 13 8 Context

First Samuel chapter 13 immediately follows Saul's initial triumphs as king and the growing conflict with the Philistines. The specific setting for this verse is Gilgal, a historically significant site where Israel first camped after crossing the Jordan and renewed their covenant. Saul had launched an attack against the Philistines, leading to a massive Philistine counter-muster. As the Philistine army assembled at Michmash, threatening Israel, panic began to spread among Saul's troops, causing many to hide or desert. This creates the backdrop of intense military pressure and fear. Prior to this, Samuel had specifically commanded Saul (1 Sam 10:8) to go to Gilgal and wait seven days for him to come and offer sacrifices, indicating that the timing and ritual act were essential components of God's strategy and approval for battle. Saul’s impatient act in verse 8 thus takes place in a moment of extreme duress, highlighting his wavering trust in God's divine timing and provision.

1 Samuel 13 8 Word analysis

• "And he waited seven days": The Hebrew term for "waited" is yakhal (יָחַל), meaning to wait, tarry, or hope. It conveys a sense of patience, but in this context, the waiting culminates in impatience. The "seven days" (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, shiv'at yamim) emphasizes a divinely appointed period (as established in 1 Sam 10:8), not an arbitrary duration. It was a test of Saul’s faith and obedience, akin to how Israel was tested in the wilderness or a waiting period for a prophetic word.
• "according to the set time that Samuel had appointed": The Hebrew mo'ed (מוֹעֵד), translated "set time" or "appointed time," signifies a fixed or pre-determined period, often used for religious festivals or solemn assemblies. This highlights that Samuel's instruction was not a mere suggestion but a binding, divinely ordained appointment crucial for the upcoming battle. Saul was explicitly commanded, making his later action a direct defiance.
• "but Samuel came not to Gilgal": This phrase (welo'-ba Shmuel) indicates the critical turning point. Samuel's perceived delay, whether intended by God as a test or due to a genuine obstacle, presented Saul with a crisis of faith. Saul was required to demonstrate absolute reliance on God, even in the face of uncertainty and escalating external pressures.
• "and the people were scattered from him": The verb "scattered" is wayyāp̄ūṣū (וַיָּפֻצוּ), implying dispersion due to fear or demoralization. This external pressure – the loss of his army's strength – intensified Saul’s internal struggle, prompting his disobedient action. This detail underscores that Saul allowed human fear and tactical expediency to override divine command, making his decision pragmatic but unfaithful.

Words-group analysis:

• "waited seven days... but Samuel came not": This tension encapsulates Saul's trial. The delay was God's testing ground for Saul's reliance on His chosen prophet and on divine timing, rather than immediate human intervention or panicked reaction. Saul's waiting turned into impatience rather than strengthening his resolve and trust.
• "according to the set time... and the people were scattered from him": This connection highlights the twin pressures on Saul: divine obligation (the set time) and human crisis (the scattering people). Saul prioritizes the immediate, visible human crisis over the invisible, foundational divine command, showcasing his shortsighted leadership rooted in fear, not faith.

1 Samuel 13 8 Bonus section

The historical significance of Gilgal, where this event occurred, adds another layer to Saul's failure. Gilgal was the initial camp of Israel upon entering Canaan, a place where the covenant was renewed (Joshua 5:2-10). It symbolized fresh beginnings and consecrated obedience. Saul’s disobedience at Gilgal was therefore not just a breach of ritual protocol but a violation of a foundational spiritual commitment, demonstrating his unfitness to lead God’s chosen people under the Lord's full blessing. Furthermore, this incident distinguishes between God's "absolute decree" (Samuel must arrive at Gilgal) and God's "permissive will" (allowing Saul's disobedience). While God could have made Samuel appear, the test was Saul’s and Saul failed due to his fear and impatient heart. This narrative foreshadows the true king, David, who, despite his faults, generally demonstrates a greater trust in God's timing and processes.

1 Samuel 13 8 Commentary

1 Samuel 13:8 details the precise moment of Saul's pivotal disobedience, setting in motion his eventual rejection as king. His sin was not merely the act of offering a sacrifice—which was reserved for priests—but performing it before Samuel arrived, contrary to an explicit, divinely appointed command. This reflects a profound lack of patience and trust in God's timing and providence, prioritizing his own perceived immediate needs (a rallying of the troops) over a direct prophetic instruction. In the face of a terrifying Philistine threat and a deserting army, Saul succumbed to fear, allowing pragmatic human concerns to supersede obedience to the divine will. This event demonstrates Saul’s failure to fully submit to God's authority as conveyed through His prophet, indicating a spirit of self-reliance rather than dependence on the Lord, a trait that would ultimately characterize his reign and lead to his downfall. Saul's actions serve as a somber example that outward piety (offering sacrifice) without true obedience and faith is futile and brings divine judgment.