Trembled — Because it was strange and unexpected to them, this being but an obscure town, and remote from Samuel, and therefore they justly thought there was some extraordinary reason for it. Peaceable — The Hebrew phrase, comest thou in peace, is as much as to say (in our phrase) is all well?
Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 16:4
1 Samuel 16:4
4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?