John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And when Saul inquired of the Lord , etc.] And this being not done truly and heartily, nor continued in, it was as if he had not inquired, and especially after he had inquired of one that had a familiar spirit, as Kimchi observes; for so it is said, ( 1 Chronicles 10:14); the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams ; which he dreamed himself, from whence he could not conclude anything relating to the will of God; so the Targum, “the Lord did not receive his prayer even by dreams;” or by dreamers, diviners, who pretended to give answers by dreams: nor by Urim ; there being no priest to consult in this way, Abiathar having fled with the ephod, in which were the Urim and Thummim, to David, ( 1 Samuel 23:9); though some think that he sent to Abiathar, who was with David, to inquire for him; and others that he made another ephod with Urim, and appointed another priest to consult by them; neither of which are probable: nor by prophets ; of which there was a school not far from him, even at Naioth in Ramah, of which Samuel in his lifetime was president; but neither by the one nor the other could Saul get an answer from God, who for his sins had departed from him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - David could not refuse Achish without danger. If he promise assistance, and then stood neuter, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. If he fought agains Israel, he would sin greatly. It seemed impossible that he should ge out of this difficulty with a clear conscience; but his evasive answer intended to gain time, was not consistent with the character of a Israelite indeed. Troubles are terrors to the children of disobedience In his distress, Saul inquired of the Lord. He did not seek in faith but with a double, unstable mind. Saul had put the law in force agains those that had familiar spirits, Ex 22:18. Many seem zealous against sin, when they are any way hurt by it, who have no concern for the glory of God, nor any dislike of sin as sin. Many seem enemies to sin in others, while they indulge it in themselves. Saul will drive the devil out of his kingdom, yet harbours him in his heart by envy an malice. How foolish to consult those whom, according to God's law, he had endeavoured to root out!
Original Hebrew וישׁאל7592 שׁאול7586 ביהוה3068 ולא3808 ענהו6030 יהוה3068 גם1571 בחלמות2472 גם1571 באורים224 גם1571 בנביאם׃5030
