7. Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan River into the territory of Gad and Gilead. But Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people who followed him trembled ⌊in fear⌋.
8. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to scatter.
9. Then Saul said, “Bring me the animals for the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” So he sacrificed the burnt offering.
10. As he finished sacrificing the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went to greet him.
11. Samuel asked, “What have you done?”Saul replied, “I saw the troops were scattering. You didn’t come when you said you would, and the Philistines were assembling at Michmash.
12. So I thought, ‘Now, the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal, but I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor.’ I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering.”
13. “You did a foolish thing,” Samuel told Saul. “You didn’t follow the command of the Lord your God. ⌊If you had,⌋ the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel permanently.
14. But now your kingdom will not last. The Lord has searched for a man after his own heart. The Lord has appointed him as ruler of his people, because you didn’t follow the command of the Lord.”
15. Samuel left Gilgal. The rest of the people followed Saul to meet the soldiers. They went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin, where Saul counted the troops who were still with him—about 600 men.
16. Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them stayed at Geba in Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
17. Raiding parties left the Philistine camp in three columns. One column turned onto the road to Ophrah to the region of Shual.