Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
(1) Samuel sincerely desired to help Saul in the presence of the people, for he dearly loved the man.  "Had Samuel refused the honor due to Saul's rank, it would have given an occasion of intrigue and resistance against Saul's government and could well have been a step toward bringing back the old anarchy."[20]