And Saul said - Here he offers three excuses for his conduct: The people were fast leaving his standard. Samuel did not come at the time, למועד lemoed ; at the very commencement of the time he did not come, but within that time he did come. The Philistines were coming fast upon him. Saul should have waited out the time; and at all events he should not have gone contrary to the counsel of the Lord. read more
I forced myself - It was with great reluctance that I did what I did. In all this Saul was sincere, but he was rash, and regardless of the precept of the Lord, which precept or command he most evidently had received, 1 Samuel 13:13 . And one part of this precept was, that the Lord should tell him what he should do. Without this information, in an affair under the immediate cognizance of God, he should have taken no step. read more
The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart - That this man was David is sufficiently clear from the sequel. But in what sense was he a man after God's own heart? Answer: In his strict attention to the law and worship of God. In his admitting, in the whole of his conduct, that God was King in Israel, and that he himself was but his vicegerent. In never attempting to alter any of those laws, or in the least change the Israelitish constitution. 4. In all his... read more
Seven days, according, to the set time. See on 1 Samuel 10:8 . The lapse of time between Samuel's appointment of the seven days during which Saul was to wait for him to inaugurate the war of independence, and the present occasion, was probably not so great as many commentators suppose; for 1 Samuel 13:1 is, as we have seen, wrongly translated, and everything else leads to the conclusion that the defeat of the Ammonites, the choice of the 3000, and Jonathan's attack on the garrison at... read more
Representative temptations. The facts are— 1 . Saul, waiting at Gilgal for Samuel, gives orders for the observance of sacrificial worship. 2 . Towards the close of the ceremony, and before the full time was expired, Samuel makes his appearance. 3 . In reply to Samuel's remonstrance, Saul assigns the reasons for his conduct—the discouragement of the people, the non-arrival of Samuel, and the threatening attitude of the foe. 4 . Samuel charges Saul with having failed to keep... read more
A burnt offering, etc. The Hebrew has the definite article, the burnt offering and the peace offerings, which were there ready for Samuel to offer. He offered. Not with his own hand, but by the hand of the attendant priest, Ahiah, who was, we know, with him. Possibly, nevertheless, the Levitical law was not at this period strictly observed. read more
That he might salute him. Literally, "bless him," but the word is often used of a solemn salutation ( 2 Kings 4:29 ). It is evident that Samuel came on the seventh day, and that Saul in his impetuosity could not stay the whole day out. read more
What hast thou done? The question implies rebuke, which Saul answers by pleading his danger. Each day's delay made his small force dwindle rapidly away, and the Philistines might at any hour move down from Michmash upon him at Gilgal and destroy him. But it was the reality of the danger which put his faith and obedience to the trial. read more
I have not made supplication unto Jehovah. Literally, "I have not stroked the face of Jehovah," but used of making him propitious by prayer ( Exodus 32:11 ; Jeremiah 26:19 ). I forced myself. Saul pleads in his justification the imminence of the danger, and perhaps there are few who have faith enough to "stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah" ( Exodus 14:13 ). read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:10
Behold , Samuel came - Samuel was punctual to his appointment; one hour longer of delay would have prevented every evil, and by it no good would have been lost. How often are the effects of precipitation fatal! read more