And they said, Straight way; for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place — the maidens explain that Samuel arrived in the city that very day and that a sacrifice (zebah) is being offered at the high place (bamah). A bamah was a local cultic site, often on elevated ground, where sacrifices and religious observances took place. Samuel's presence coincides with the sacrifice, suggesting his role as both seer and priest, both revealer of God's will and mediator of covenant worship. The phrase 'to day' (hayom) emphasizes the precision of the timing: Saul arrives exactly when Samuel is present, exactly when the sacrifice is being offered. The maidens continue: As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat—implying that Samuel has specific knowledge about the day's events and particular plans.

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