As they drew near to the city they met some young maidens who had come out to draw water, and inquired of them for the seer. In reply they were told that a religious service was about to take place, that the prophet had already arrived, there was to be an offering upon "the high place," and after that a sacrificial feast. A great change had taken place under Samuel's administration. When the call of God first came to him the services of the sanctuary were held in contempt. "Men abhorred the offering of the Lord." 1 Samuel 2:17. But the worship of God was now maintained throughout the land, and the people manifested an interest in religious services. There being no ministration in the tabernacle, sacrifices were for the time offered elsewhere; and the cities of the priests and Levites, where the people resorted for instruction, were chosen for this purpose. The highest points in these cities were usually selected as the place of sacrifice, and hence were called "the high places."

Da de kom i nærheden af byen, mødte de nogle unge piger, det var på vej ud for at øse vand, og dem spurgte de, hvor seeren boede. Pigerne fortalte dem, at der netop skulle være gudstjeneste den dag, at profeten allerede var kommet, at der skulle ofres et slagtoffer "på offerhøjen" og at der bagefter skulle holdes offerfest. Der var indført store forandringer i Samuels embedstid. Da han modtog Guds kald første gang, var gudstjenesten bragt i miskredit. Der blev vist ringeagt for Herrens offergaver. 1. Sam. 2, 17. Men nu tjente folket Gud over hele landet og viste en levende interesse for gudstjenesten. Tabernakeltjenesten var ophørt, og man bragte derfor ofrene andre steder på dette tidspunkt. Man ofrede i præsternes og levitternes byer, hvor folket samledes for at blive undervist. Man bragte sædvanligvis ofrene på de højeste steder i disse byer; derfor kaldte man disse høje punkter offerhøje.