Saul had now been subjected to the final test. His presumptuous disregard of the will of God, showing his determination to rule as an independent monarch, proved that he could not be trusted with royal power as the vicegerent of the Lord. While Saul and his army were marching home in the flush of victory, there was deep anguish in the home of Samuel the prophet. He had received a message from the Lord denouncing the course of 630 the king: "It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments." The prophet was deeply grieved over the course of the rebellious king, and he wept and prayed all night for a reversing of the terrible sentence.

Dette var den sidste, store prøve, Saul blev stillet på. I sit overmod havde han tilsidesat Guds vilje og vist, at han var besluttet på at regere som en uafhængig monark. Derfor kunne Gud ikke fortsat betro ham kongeværdigheden og lade ham regere som sin stedfortræder. Der rådede dyb sorg i profeten Samuels hjem, da Saul og hæren marcherede hjem i den første sejrsrus. Herren havde givet Samuel et budskab, der fordømte kongens handlemåde. Det lød således: "Jeg angrer, at jeg gjorde Saul til konge; thi han har vendt sig fra mig og ikke holdt mine befalinger!" Profeten sørgede dybt over den oprørske konges optræden; han græd og benyttede hele natten til at bede om, at Gud ville ændre den frygtelige dom.