1 Samuel 13:8

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to slip away from Saul.

1 Samuel 13:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 13:8

And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that
Samuel had appointed
He tarried to the seventh day, but not to the end of it, or towards the close of it, as he should have done:

but Samuel came not to Gilgal;
so soon as Saul expected:

and the people were scattered from him;
many deserted him, the Philistines drawing nigh, and Samuel not coming, as Saul expected, and had given the people reason to expect.

1 Samuel 13:8 In-Context

6 When the Israelites saw that they were in distress (for the troops were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns.
7 Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to slip away from Saul.
9 So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the offerings of well-being." And he offered the burnt offering.
10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived; and Saul went out to meet him and salute him.

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.