Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 11:15

"And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Jehovah; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly." — 1 Samuel 11:15 (ASV)

And there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal.

We must not understand from the Septuagint Version that Saul was anointed afresh at Gilgal. The Greek Version reads, "and Samuel anointed Saul king there." The Gilgal convention was nothing more than a solemn national confirmation of the popular election at Mizpeh.

The words "before the Lord," imply the presence of the Ark, or of the high priest with the mystic Urim and Thummim.

Bishop Wordsworth understands the words "they made Saul king" to mean that after this, "the people would not allow him to lead a private life any longer, but they made him assume the royal state and authority to which he had been appointed by God."