Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Chronicles 13:3

3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul .

The Ark was then neglected; and the generality of the People either lived in the gross neglect of the solemn Worship of God; or contented themselves with going to Gibeon and offering Sacrifices there, not caring, though the Ark, the Soul of the Tabernacle, was in another place.

So it was in the days of Samuel; but it is rather charged upon Saul than him: partly because Samuel was exercised with continual Wars or expectation of Wars with the Philistins all the time of his Regency, and therefore wanted the Opportunity to bring back the Ark which Saul had and neglected: partly because Samuel took care to stir up and maintain Religion among them by other Means and in an extraordinary manner; whereas this was but one Branch of Sauls Impiety, and was joyned with a contempt of all Religion, as the History of his Life shews: and partly because it was more proper to accuse himself and the present Generation who were guilty of this neglect, than to rake into the Ashes of their deceased Progenitors, and lay his Charge against those who were dead and gon[illegible: 1+ letters] some good while since.

Marginal references: Heb. bring about