Having left Saul at Gilgal following his earlier disobedience (1 Samuel 13:15), Samuel now returns with a message from the Lord. Exactly how much time has passed since the victory over the Philistines is unclear (1 Samuel 14:1–52), but the instruction clearly came after that victory.1
1 And Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD.