1 Samuel 13:7
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Israel was brought into a sore trial and a strait place by the overwhelming multitude of the Philistines. In that distress the people were terrified and distressed, hiding themselves in caves and thickets and rocks and pits, while some fled over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, and Saul remained yet at Gilgal. Those who stayed with him at Gilgal followed him trembling, and his army was deserting and scattering from him as he waited for Samuel.
Their trembling showed they had realized their sin in choosing a king and rejecting God's rule, so they dared not put confidence in Saul as they had formerly trusted in the Lord as Ruler and Authority. The new king was not God, and they were learning the meaning of defeat even before battle was entered upon. Their fear and scattering also reflected lack of confidence that God would deliver them and failure to trust either God or the king they had chosen.
The crisis was Saul's time to act faith, to respect special directions, to bow in humble self-distrustful prayer and wait a few hours for Samuel's appointed arrival, trusting God to see Israel's situation. Instead he trusted his own strength and ardor, and grew passionate, presumptuous and impatient. He forced himself into the sacred office of priesthood to offer a sacrifice he was never appointed or authorized to present.