Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 9:26

"And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad." — 1 Samuel 9:26 (ASV)

And they arose early. —The English translation of this verse is misleading. It should read as follows: And they arose early, namely, when the morning dawned. Samuel called for Saul upon the roof, Get up, that I may send you, etc. The English rendering seems to suppose that they rose first, and afterwards, around daybreak (the morning dawn), Samuel called Saul—the fact being that, as is frequent in Hebrew narration, the second clause simply related the same event as the first clause had already done, only with greater detail.

The sense then is obvious. Saul, evidently weary after the exciting scene and revelations of the day before, slept soundly, probably heavily, on his couch spread on the roof of the prophet’s house. From this roof-top Samuel calls Saul in the early morning, wishing to conduct him himself out of the city, as he had a yet more important communication to make to his amazed and awe-struck visitor.