1Sa 13:7-13 | TNotes | STEP | 13:7 The land of Gad and Gilead ran the length of Transjordan (the region just east of the Jordan River).

13:7 ^a The land of Gad and Gilead ran the length of Transjordan (the region just east of the Jordan River).
13:8 ^b seven days ... as Samuel had instructed: This instruction most likely was not the instruction in 10:8 ^c but an unrecorded instruction on a separate occasion (see study note on 10:8).
13:9 ^d the burnt offering and the peace offerings: These general-purpose offerings (see Exod 24:5 ^e; 32:6 ^f; Num 10:10 ^g; 15:8 ^h; Deut 27:6-7 ⁱ) were always offered on a solemn occasion filled with either danger or joy. Typically, only priests were to offer these sacrifices (but see study note on 1 Sam 13:13).
13:10 ^j meet and welcome: Saul seemed unaware he had done anything wrong.
13:11 ^k What is this you have done? Samuel’s question was a rebuke, not a request for information (cp. Gen 3:13 ^l).
13:12 ^m asked for the Lord’s help: The purpose of the burnt offering was to entreat God to grant victory in battle. Samuel himself had offered a similar sacrifice, which did lead to victory in battle (see 7:7-11 ⁿ). But Samuel, unlike Saul, served in a priestly role.
13:13 ^o the command the Lord ... gave you: Other kings offered sacrifices without censure (David, 2 Sam 6:13 ^p, 17-18 ^q; Solomon, 1 Kgs 3:15 ^r; 8:64 ^s; Ahaz, 2 Kgs 16:12-13 ^t), as did judges (Gideon, Judg 6:26 ^u), illustrating that on occasion non-priests could conduct sacrifices in a way that pleased the Lord. However, Samuel, God’s prophet, had given Saul the order to wait (see study note on 1 Sam 13:8).