Saul’s hasty action would have lasting consequences for his kingship.
“Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.” (v.8). In this verse, we see King Saul following the instructions from the prophet Samuel to wait at Gilgal for seven days. Gilgal was an important gathering place located near the Jordan River and close to the ancient city of Jericho. It was one of the first sites where the Israelites encamped under Joshua’s leadership after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4). Saul, who reigned from around 1050 BC to 1010 BC, was the first king of Israel and had been told by Samuel—who served as a prophet and judge during the transition from tribal rule to kingship (around 1100 BC to 1020 BC)—to wait for divine guidance before taking any further military or religious action.
Continuing with the verse, “...but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him” (v.8). This highlights the tense situation Saul faced: his authority weakened as the people under his command grew anxious. The tribes who had initially rallied behind him now saw no sign of Samuel’s presence, and some of them began losing confidence in Saul’s leadership. This episode sets the stage for Saul’s testing of faith and obedience to God’s instructions. Waiting, especially in a time of impending war, tested Saul’s willingness to trust God’s timing over his own understanding, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The internal struggle Saul experienced at Gilgal can be connected to a major biblical principle that appears often in the New Testament: the call to steadfast faith. Believers are reminded of Jesus’ teaching to rely on God’s power and promises (John 15:5). Saul’s impatience at Gilgal foreshadows the outcomes of acting independently from God’s guidance. While Samuel’s delay may seem unexplainable, it was a divine arrangement designed to test Saul’s heart and leadership, demonstrating that human plans must yield to God’s sovereign direction (Romans 8:28).
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1 Samuel 13:8 meaning
“Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.” (v.8). In this verse, we see King Saul following the instructions from the prophet Samuel to wait at Gilgal for seven days. Gilgal was an important gathering place located near the Jordan River and close to the ancient city of Jericho. It was one of the first sites where the Israelites encamped under Joshua’s leadership after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4). Saul, who reigned from around 1050 BC to 1010 BC, was the first king of Israel and had been told by Samuel—who served as a prophet and judge during the transition from tribal rule to kingship (around 1100 BC to 1020 BC)—to wait for divine guidance before taking any further military or religious action.
Continuing with the verse, “...but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him” (v.8). This highlights the tense situation Saul faced: his authority weakened as the people under his command grew anxious. The tribes who had initially rallied behind him now saw no sign of Samuel’s presence, and some of them began losing confidence in Saul’s leadership. This episode sets the stage for Saul’s testing of faith and obedience to God’s instructions. Waiting, especially in a time of impending war, tested Saul’s willingness to trust God’s timing over his own understanding, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The internal struggle Saul experienced at Gilgal can be connected to a major biblical principle that appears often in the New Testament: the call to steadfast faith. Believers are reminded of Jesus’ teaching to rely on God’s power and promises (John 15:5). Saul’s impatience at Gilgal foreshadows the outcomes of acting independently from God’s guidance. While Samuel’s delay may seem unexplainable, it was a divine arrangement designed to test Saul’s heart and leadership, demonstrating that human plans must yield to God’s sovereign direction (Romans 8:28).