Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageHe waited the full seven days — the exact time Samuel had appointed — but Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal, and the people began melting away from him.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GHe waited seven days, the appointed time that Shemu'el had set — but Shemu'el did not come to the Gilgal, and the people began to scatter away from him.
KJV
King James VersionAnd he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleAnd Saul waited seven days for the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to desert Saul.
Footnotes
The *mo'ed* (appointed time/sacred season) is a deeply covenantal term throughout the Torah — used for divinely fixed festivals and divine appointments (Lev. 23). Here it points back to 1 Sam. 10:8, where Shemu'el had set this very rendezvous seven days in advance. The text does not say Samuel was late — only that he had not yet come when the pressure became unbearable. The narrative is carefully constructed to make Sha'ul's failure understandable and his decision inexcusable simultaneously. FOG renders 'appointed time'; FOG Message 'the exact time Samuel had appointed' draws out the weight of the divine timetable.
