1 Samuel 13:9

“And Saul said, etc.] Being impatient, and seeing the people deserting him apace, and unwilling to engage in a battle without first sacrificing to God, and imploring his help and assistance: bring hither a burnt offering to me; that is, a creature for a burnt offering, a bullock, sheep, goat, or lamb: and peace offerings; which also were either of the herd, or of the flock: and he offered the burnt offering; either he himself, or by a priest. In this unsettled time, while the tabernacle, altar, and ark, were at different places, and not yet fixed, it is thought that such who were not priests might offer, and that in high places, and where the tabernacle and altar were not.”

“SAUL, WEARY OF WAITING FOR SAMUEL, SACRIFICES. (Sa1 13:9-16) Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings--Saul, though patriotic enough in his own way, was more ambitious of gaining the glory of a triumph to himself than ascribing it to God. He did not understand his proper position as king of Israel; and although aware of the restrictions under which he held the sovereignty, he wished to rule as an autocrat, who possessed absolute power both in civil and sacred things. This occasion was his first trial. Samuel waited till the last day of the seven, in order to put the constitutional character of the king to the test; and, as Saul, in his impatient and passionate…”

“There is a difference of opinion among commentators whether Saul himself offered the sacrifices prepared for Samuel, thus entrenching upon the priest’s office; or whether he ordered the priests to sacrifice, as Solomon did. In the latter case his sin consisted in disobeying the word of God, who had bidden him wait until Samuel came. And this is, on the whole, the more probable; since Samuel’s rebuke says nothing of any assumption of priesthood, such as we read in the case of Uzziah 2 Chronicles 26:18. return to 'Top of Page'”

“13:9 the burnt offering and the peace offerings: These general-purpose offerings (see Exod 24:5; 32:6; Num 10:10; 15:8; Deut 27:6-7) 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).”

“he offered: Sa1 13:12, Sa1 13:13, Sa1 14:18, Sa1 15:21, Sa1 15:22; Deu 12:6; Kg1 3:4; Psa 37:7; Pro 15:8; Pro 20:22, Pro 21:3, Pro 21:27; Isa 66:3 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 13:10”