1 Samuel 10:8

“And thou shall go down before me to Gilgal, etc.] Not immediately; for the first summons of the people, and of Saul, and the first meeting of them by Samuel, were at Mizpeh, where Saul was chosen by lot; nor the first time of Saul’s being at Gilgal, when the kingdom was renewed; for Saul had no need to wait seven days there, since he and Samuel went together, (<091114>1 Samuel 11:14) rather at the second time of his being there, where not staying the time quite up, was reproved for it, which was two years after this, (<091301>1 Samuel 13:1,8,13), though it may be this was a general rule to be observed by Saul, that whenever anything turned up of importance to the children of Israel, and was…”

“thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal--This, according to JOSEPHUS, was to be a standing rule for the observance of Saul while the prophet and he lived; that in every great crisis, such as a hostile incursion on the country, he should repair to Gilgal, where he was to remain seven days, to afford time for the tribes on both sides Jordan to assemble, and Samuel to reach it.”

“Seven days shalt thou tarry ... - The appointment here made is not to be confounded with that mentioned in marginal reference. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Till I come - This, though now mentioned and commanded, was not immediately to be performed; as is evident, partly from the whole course of the story, (which shews, that Saul and Samuel, and the people, first met at Mizpeh, Sa1 10:17, &c. where Saul was chosen by God, and accepted by the people as king; and afterwards went to Gilgal once before the time here spoken of, Sa1 11:14-15,) and partly, by comparing this place with Sa1 13:8, &c. where we find Saul charged with the violation of this command, two years after the giving of it. It seems this is given as a standing rule for Saul to observe while Samuel and he lived; that in case of any great future difficulties, as the invasion of…”

“10:8 Gilgal: See study note on 7:16. • wait for seven days: Saul apparently fulfilled this instruction in 11:14-15 (cp. 13:8).”

“to Gilgal: Sa1 11:14, Sa1 11:15, Sa1 13:4, Sa1 13:8-15, Sa1 15:33 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 10:9”

“In conclusion, Samuel gave him an important hint with regard to his future attitude: "And goest thou before me down to Gilgal; and, behold, I am coming down to thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice peace-offerings: thou shalt wait seven days, till I come to thee, that I may show thee what thou art to do." The infinitive clause וגו להעלות is undoubtedly dependent upon the main clause וירדתּ, and not upon the circumstantial clause which is introduced as a parenthesis. The thought therefore is the following: If Saul went down to Gilgal to offer sacrifice there, he was to wait till Samuel arrived. The construction of the main clause itself, however, is doubtful, since, grammatically…”