Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 9:13

"as soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goeth up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him." — 1 Samuel 9:13 (ASV)

Before he goes up — By this phrase, we see that the high place was in the highest part of the city. Like the house of the god Berith (Judges 9:46), it was probably the citadel of Ramah. A room connected with the altar was large enough for thirty people to dine in (1 Samuel 9:22).