1Sa 13:8-15 | TNotes | STEP | 13:8 seven days ... as Samuel had instructed: This instruction most likely was not the instruction in 10:8 but an unrecorded instruction on a separate occasion (see study note on 10:8).

13:8 ^a seven days ... as Samuel had instructed: This instruction most likely was not the instruction in 10:8 ^b but an unrecorded instruction on a separate occasion (see study note on 10:8).
13:9 ^c the burnt offering and the peace offerings: These general-purpose offerings (see Exod 24:5 ^d; 32:6 ^e; Num 10:10 ^f; 15:8 ^g; Deut 27:6-7 ^h) 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 ⁱ meet and welcome: Saul seemed unaware he had done anything wrong.
13:11 ^j What is this you have done? Samuel’s question was a rebuke, not a request for information (cp. Gen 3:13 ^k).
13:12 ^l 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 ^m). But Samuel, unlike Saul, served in a priestly role.
13:13 ⁿ the command the Lord ... gave you: Other kings offered sacrifices without censure (David, 2 Sam 6:13 ^o, 17-18 ^p; Solomon, 1 Kgs 3:15 ^q; 8:64 ^r; Ahaz, 2 Kgs 16:12-13 ^s), as did judges (Gideon, Judg 6:26 ^t), 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).
13:14 ^u a man after his own heart: This prophecy pertains to David (see also Acts 13:22 ^v) rather than to Saul’s son Jonathan. The rejection of Saul was also the rejection of his family dynasty.
13:15 ^w only 600 were left: Most of the 3,000 troops (13:2 ^x) had abandoned Saul (13:6-7 ^y).