All Israel heard say that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
When did the events of this chapter happen if the last number in 1 Samuel 13:1 indicates the length of Saul’s reign? In 1 Samuel 10:8, Samuel commanded Saul to go to Gilgal and to wait seven days for him there. In 1 Samuel 13:8, we read that Saul went to Gilgal and waited seven days for Samuel. Therefore the events of chapter 13 appear to have followed those in chapter 10 soon, perhaps in the second year of his reign. [Note: Merrill, Kingdom of . . ., p. 193; Wood, Israel’s United . . ., pp. 123.] 