⁶ The men of Israel realized they had a problem because their army was hard pressed. So the army hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, strongholds,^[a] and cisterns. ⁷ Some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan River^[b] to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal; the entire army that was with him was terrified. ⁸ He waited for seven days, the time period indicated by Samuel.^[c] But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army began to abandon Saul.^[d]

⁹ So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” Then he offered a burnt offering. ¹⁰ Just when he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel appeared on the scene. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.^[e]

¹¹ But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “When I saw that the army had started to abandon me,^[f] and that you didn’t come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines had assembled at Micmash, ¹² I thought,^[g] ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated^[h] to offer the burnt offering.”

¹³ Then Samuel said to Saul, “You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed^[i] the commandment that the Lord your God gave^[j] you. Had you done that, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought out^[k] for himself a man who is loyal to him,^[l] and the Lord has appointed^[m] him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the Lord commanded you.”