1 Samuel 13:8

8 And seven days he abode Samuel by [the] covenant, and Samuel came not into Gilgal; and the people went away from Saul. (And for seven days he waited for Samuel, as by their pact, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and then the people began to go 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 And when [the] men of Israel had seen, that they were set in straitness, for (this) the people was tormented, (and) they hid themselves in dens (and they hid themselves in caves), and in privy places, and in stones, and in ditches, and in cisterns.

7 Soothly (some of the) Hebrews passed (over) Jordan, into the land of Gad and of Gilead. And when Saul was yet in Gilgal, all the people was afeared that followed him (And when Saul was still in Gilgal, all the people who followed him were afraid).

8 And seven days he abode Samuel by [the] covenant, and Samuel came not into Gilgal; and the people went away from Saul. (And for seven days he waited for Samuel, as by their pact, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and then the people began to go away from Saul.)

9 Therefore Saul said, Bring ye to me (a) burnt sacrifice, and peaceable offerings (and peace offerings); and he offered (the) burnt sacrifice.

10 And when he had ended offering the burnt sacrifice, lo! Samuel came; and Saul went out against him, to greet him (and Saul went out to greet him).