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1 Samuel 15:12
ESV And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal."
NIV Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal."
NASB Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was reported to Samuel, saying, 'Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.'
CSB Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, "Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal."
NLT Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, 'Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.'
KJV And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
NKJV So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.”

What does 1 Samuel 15:12 mean?

After a night of mourning over Saul's sin and God's response, Samuel rises early the next morning to find the king and confront him. It seems, though, that Saul is not where Samuel expects him to be.

The king and the Israelite army have traveled back from the battle against the Amalekites in the south, beyond Judah and Israel's southern border. Along the way, Saul stopped at a town called Carmel. This is located in Judah, south of Hebron. Saul set up a monument in his own honor at Carmel, likely to describe and celebrate his victory over the Amalekites. This was apparently a common practice among kings in the ancient Near East. It doesn't seem appropriate for Israel who is empowered entirely by the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:17–18). This battle was meant to enact God's judgment on the Amalekites. The Israelites were to entirely destroy everything the Amalekites had (1 Samuel 15:3). This was not intended to benefit Israel; the purpose was for God's people to be used as an instrument of His judgment (Exodus 17:14–16; Deuteronomy 25:17–19).

Samuel is told that Saul went to Gilgal after that. Samuel will find the king there (1 Samuel 15:13).
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