Samuel’s instructions that Saul should go ahead of him to Gilgal anticipate the events of 13.8-14.

Gilgal: see the comment on 7.16.

The particle translated behold serves to focus attention on the words that follow, that is, on the eventual coming of Samuel. The pronoun, I, that follows is also emphatic. Samuel is making a definite promise that he will appear in Gilgal later.

Burnt offerings … peace offerings: these two types of offering are explained in detail in Lev 1.2-17 and 3.1-17. Regarding burnt offerings see the comments on 6.14. The purpose of peace offerings (see also Lev 7.11-38) was to establish or maintain good relations with God. The translation of these two kinds of sacrifices varies in English translations. Peace offerings are also called “fellowship offerings” (Good News Translation and New International Version), “sacrifices of well-being” (New Revised Standard Version), “shared-offerings” (Revised English Bible), and “communion sacrifices” (New Jerusalem Bible). Translators should ensure that their use of such terms is consistent throughout the Bible.

Seven days you shall wait: the future tense has an imperative meaning, and the word order may be considered unnatural in many languages. It may be more natural to say “but you must wait seven days” (New Century Version).

Show you what you shall do: the verb show should not be taken to mean that Samuel plans to put on a demonstration of some kind. Rather it is to be understood as meaning something like “I shall then reveal to you what you must do” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “… instruct you what you are to do next” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The Hebrew is literally “cause you to know what you shall do.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .