It is not clear why the elders of the town were afraid. It is possible that they thought Samuel’s visit was of a disciplinary nature.1 According to Deuteronomy 21:1–9, the elders and judges of the town were to have a Levite sacrifice a heifer to atone for sin in instances of unsolved murder. When Samuel arrived with a heifer, they might have assumed that a murder had taken place. Alternatively, knowing that there was a rift between Samuel and Saul, they might have been scared of having to pick a side and thus have Saul’s wrath come upon them.
4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?”