Samuel tried to reason beyond what the moment required. He explained prophecy, history, conscience, Bible chronology, organizational structure, and world conditions in long spirals of speech that only made the officers more impatient.

His words were not wrong, but they were not appropriate to the setting.

Soon his explanations were cut off, his tone was misunderstood, and the atmosphere hardened.

He had not strengthened the witness.

He had obscured it.