The Gemara says that Shmuel "covered up" for his visit to David by telling Shaul that he was going to Yerushalayim to bring a Korban.
But in Eruvin 97a we find that the Chachamim discuss the novelty of Yonah the prophet's wife going to be Oleh la'Regel. I remember that someone there commented that it was unusual for a prophet to be Oleh to Yerushalayim; the prophets would normally stay with the people in their city. If so, wouldn't it still look funny to Shaul if Shmuel would be coming to Yerushalayim to bring Korbanos?
Thanks for all of your help!
Tuvya Marcus, Jerusalem, Israel
I think that there was nothing surprising about Shmuel's travelling to bring Korbanos, as Shmuel was known for constantly travelling for spiritual reasons, most noteworthy among them travelling to many cities to be an accesible Navi for B'nei Yisrael. It is possible that Shmuel did not have a believable reason to specifically go to Yerushalayim at that time besides to bring Korbanos, but the fact that he traveled a lot does not seem to be strange.
Kol Tuv,
Yaakov Montrose
Reb Yaakov,
Shmuel wasn't going to Yerushalayim. The Beis ha'Mikdash wasn't built yet, and the Mishkan certainly wasn't in Yerushalayim.
All the best,
Yisroel