1 Samuel 13:8-14

Expanded Bible

⁸ Saul waited seven days, ·because Samuel had said he would meet him then [^Lthe period/time Samuel had set; ^Cas a priest, Samuel had to offer sacrifices before battle]. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the soldiers began to ·leave [scatter; slip away].

⁹ So Saul said, “Bring me the whole burnt offering and the ·fellowship [peace; communion] offerings.” Then Saul ·offered [sacrificed] the whole burnt offering. ¹⁰ Just as he finished, Samuel arrived, and Saul went to greet him.

¹¹ Samuel asked, “What have you ·done [been doing]?”

Saul answered, “I saw the soldiers ·leaving [scattering from] me, and you were not here ·when you said you would be [at the set/appointed time]. The Philistines were gathering at Micmash. ¹² Then I thought, ‘The Philistines will come against me at Gilgal, and I haven’t asked for the Lord’s ·approval [help; favor].’ So I ·forced myself [felt compelled/it necessary] to offer the whole burnt offering.”

¹³ Samuel said, “You acted foolishly [^Conly priests could legitimately offer sacrifices]! You haven’t ·obeyed [kept] the command of the Lord your God [^Cfrightened troops should have been allowed to leave; Deut. 20:8–9]. If you had obeyed him, the Lord would have ·made your kingdom continue [established your kingdom] ·in [over] Israel always [^CSaul rather than David would have had a dynasty], ¹⁴ but now your kingdom will not ·continue [last; endure]. The Lord has ·looked for the kind of man he wants [^Lsought a man after his own heart; 16:6–13]. He has appointed him to ·rule [^Lbe prince over] his people, because you haven’t ·obeyed his [kept the Lord’s] command.”