And they arose early
Neither of them being able to sleep, as Abarbinel supposes; not Samuel for thinking what he was to do the next morning, anoint Saul king over Israel; nor Saul for what Samuel had hinted to him about the desire of all Israel being upon him, and for the honour done him at the feast, and because of the conversation they had together afterwards:
and it came to pass about the spring of the day;
or the "ascents of the morning" F24, when day was about to break, before the sun was up:
that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house;
where they had conversed together the evening before:
saying, up, that I may send thee away;
meaning not rise from his bed, for he was risen; but that he would prepare to set out on his journey, that Samuel might take his leave of him for the present, when he had accompanied him some part of his way, as he intended; and he was the more urgent upon him, because there was something to be done before people were stirring:
and Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad;
out of Samuel's house, without doors, into the street.