Mourning usually followed the death of a loved one. In this case, mourning precedes Saul’s death and serves to show the strong sorrow that Samuel experienced following the termination of Saul’s monarchy.1 Samuel had high hopes for Saul, and he was sad to see him turn his back on the Lord and be rejected as king.2 It is not clear how long he was in mourning before the Lord spoke to him and gave him a new command.3
1 L'Eternel dit à Samuel: Quand cesseras-tu de pleurer sur Saül? Je l'ai rejeté, afin qu'il ne règne plus sur Israël. Remplis ta corne d'huile, et va; je t'enverrai chez Isaï, Bethléhémite, car j'ai vu parmi ses fils celui que je désire pour roi.