1 Samuel 13:5-8 - The troops were quaking with fear

13:5-7

As expected the Philistines prepare to attack Israel, gathering an army with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers and a vast number of soldiers. They massively outnumbered Israel, and were much better equipped. The Israelites saw the seriousness (direness?) of the situation, and so hid in caves and other places. It is worth recalling verses such as these when we read verses such as Rev 6:15. Some of them crossed over to Gad and Gilead. This probably means that they crossed over the Jordan to seek refuge among the Transjordanian tribes. Saul remained behind to face the music. However, all the troops who remained with him were quaking with fear. Things were not looking good for Israel.

13:8

The time of seven days set here presumably refers back to 1 Sam 10:8. However, Samuel had not arrived. The whole incident described here is, at least at face value, open to different interpretations. When it says “but Samuel did not come to Gilgal”, it is not absolutely clear whether Samuel had not arrived at all on the seventh day and the seventh day was over, or whether he only arrived very late on the seventh day. If Samuel did arrive late on the seventh day, then the matter is fairly straightforward, and Saul should just have waited a little longer. Some commentators think Saul is being treated harshly, and Samuel is being unduly grumpy. This latter suggestion has to be rejected as having no foundation Scripture. Even so, Saul’s reaction is at least partially understandable. Saul’s men were already filled with fear, and this situation got worse and some started to scatter.