TRV
Translation
King James Version
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Complete Jewish Bible
But when he consulted ADONAI, ADONAI didn't answer him - not by dreams, not by urim and not by prophets.
Berean Standard Bible
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
American Standard Version
And when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
World English Bible Messianic
When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD didn’t answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Therefore Saul asked counsel of the Lord, and the Lord answered him not, neither by dreames, nor by Vrim, nor yet by Prophets.
Young's Literal Translation
and Saul asketh at Jehovah, and Jehovah hath not answered him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
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Commentary on 1 Samuel 28 verses 1–6
1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Here is, I. The design of the Philistines against Israel. They resolved to fight them, Sa1 28:1. If the Israelites had not forsaken God, there would have been no Philistines remaining to molest them; if Saul had not forsaken him, they would by this time have been put out of all danger by them. The Philistines took an opportunity to make this attempt when they had David among them, whom they feared more than Saul and all his forces.
II. The expectation Achish had of assistance from David in this war, and the encouragement David gave him to expect it: "Thou shalt go with me to battle," says Achish. "If I protect thee, I may demand service from thee;" and he will think himself happy if he may have such a man as David on his side, who prospered whithersoever he went. David gave him an ambiguous answer: "We will see what will be done; it will be time enough to talk of that hereafter; but surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do" (Sa1 28:2), that is, "I will consider in what post I may be best able to serve thee, if thou wilt but give me leave to choose it." Thus he keeps himself free from a promise to serve him and yet keeps up his expectation of it; for Achish took it in no other sense than as an engagement to assist him, and promised him, thereupon, that he would make him captain of the guards, protector, or prime-minister of state.
III. The drawing of the armies, on both sides, into the field (Sa1 28:4): The Philistines pitched in Shunem, which was in the tribe of Issachar, a great way north from their country. The land of Israel, it seems, was ill-guarded, when the Philistines could march their army into the very heart of the country. Saul, while he pursued David, left his people naked and exposed. On some of the adjacent mountains of Gilboa Saul mustered his forces, and prepared to engage the Philistines, which he had little heart to do now that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him.
IV. The terror Saul was in, and the loss he was at, upon this occasion: He saw the host of the Philistines, and by his own view of them, and the intelligence his spies brought him, he perceived they were more numerous, better armed, and in better heart, than his own were, which made him afraid, so that his heart greatly trembled, Sa1 28:5. Had he kept close to God, he needed not have been afraid at the sight of an army of Philistines; but now that he had provoked God to forsake him his interest failed, his armies dwindled and looked mean, and, which was worse, his spirits failed him, his heart sunk within him, a guilty conscience made him tremble at the shaking of a leaf. Now he remembered the guilty blood of the Amalekites which he had spared, and the innocent blood of the priests which he had spilt. His sins were set in order before his eyes, which put him into confusion, embarrassed all his counsels, robbed him of all his courage, and produced in him a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. Note, Troubles are terrors to the children of disobedience. In this distress Saul enquired of the Lord, Sa1 28:6. Need drives those to God who in the day of their prosperity slighted his oracles and altars. Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, Isa 26:16. Did ever any seek the Lord and not find him? Yes, Saul did; the Lord answered him not, took no notice either of his petitions or of his enquiries; gave him no directions what to do, nor any encouragement to hope that he would be with him. Should he be enquired of at all by such a one as Saul? Eze 14:3. No, he could not expect an answer of peace, for, 1. He enquired in such a manner that it was as if he had not enquired at all. Therefore it is said (Ch1 10:14), He enquired not of the Lord; for he did it faintly and coldly, and with a secret design, if God did not answer him, to consult the devil. He did not enquire in faith, but with a double unstable mind. 2. He enquired of the Lord when it was too late, when the days of his probation were over and he was finally rejected. Seek the Lord while he may be found, for there is a time when he will not be found. 3. He had forfeited the benefit of all the methods of enquiry. Could he that hated and persecuted Samuel and David, who were both prophets, expect to be answered by prophets? Could he that had slain the high priest, expect to be answered by Urim? Or could he that had sinned away the Spirit of grace, expect to be answered by dreams? No. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.
V. The mention of some things that had happened a good while ago, to introduce the following story, Sa1 28:3. 1. The death of Samuel. Samuel was dead, which made the Philistines the more bold and Saul the more afraid; for, had Samuel been alive, Saul probably thought that his presence and countenance, his good advice and good prayers, would have availed him in his distress. 2. Saul's edict against witchcraft. He had put the laws in execution against those that had familiar spirits, who must not be suffered to live, Exo 22:18. Some think that he did this in the beginning of his reign, while he was under Samuel's influence; others think that it was lately done, for it is spoken of here (Sa1 28:9) as a late edict. Perhaps when Saul was himself troubled with an evil spirit he suspected that he was bewitched, and, for that reason, cut off all that had familiar spirits. Many seem zealous against sin, when they themselves are any way hurt by it (they will inform against swearers if they swear at them, or against drunkards if in their drink they abuse them), who otherwise have no concern for the glory of God, nor any dislike of sin as sin. However it was commendable in Saul thus to use his power for the terror and restraint of these evil-doers. Note, Many seem enemies to sin in others, while they indulge it in themselves. Saul will drive the devil out of his kingdom, and yet harbour him in his heart, by envy and malice.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–6. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Samuel 28:6 vividly portrays King Saul's desperate and formal attempt to seek divine guidance as the formidable Philistine army amassed for battle, only to be met with absolute and profound silence from the LORD. This complete lack of response—neither through traditional dreams, the sacred Urim, nor the established prophetic office—underscores God's definitive withdrawal from Saul, a direct and severe consequence of the king's persistent rebellion, spiritual estrangement, and unrepentant heart. The verse marks a critical and tragic turning point in Saul's reign, highlighting the devastating judgment of divine silence and precipitating his desperate descent into forbidden practices.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is strategically placed within the latter part of 1 Samuel, a narrative arc that meticulously chronicles King Saul's tragic decline and God's ultimate rejection of him as king. Immediately preceding 1 Samuel 28:6, 1 Samuel 28:5 describes Saul's profound fear and terror upon seeing the vast Philistine encampment at Shunem. This fear is exacerbated by the recent death of Samuel (1 Samuel 25:1), the revered prophet through whom God had frequently communicated with Saul and the nation. Saul's inquiry of the LORD in this verse is therefore an act of profound desperation, a last-ditch effort to secure divine counsel before a seemingly insurmountable battle. The LORD's absolute silence in response to Saul's inquiry directly sets the stage for the king's subsequent, and ultimately fatal, decision to consult the medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28:7), revealing the depth of his spiritual abandonment and his willingness to transgress divine law in his terror. This sequence highlights the irreversible nature of God's rejection of Saul and the king's escalating spiritual depravity.
Historical & Cultural Context: The period of the early Israelite monarchy, as depicted in 1 Samuel, was characterized by ongoing existential conflicts with surrounding nations, particularly the Philistines, who posed a significant and persistent threat to Israel's territorial integrity, national identity, and religious purity. Kings like Saul were not only expected to lead their people in battle but, more crucially, to seek and obey divine guidance before major engagements, as their authority derived from God. In ancient Israel, legitimate and divinely sanctioned means of divine communication included prophetic pronouncements (through figures like Samuel), dreams (often conveying warnings or instructions), and the Urim and Thummim, sacred objects used by the high priest in conjunction with the ephod to discern God's will, often for yes/no answers or specific directives. Critically, the Mosaic Law explicitly and repeatedly prohibited consulting mediums, necromancers, and other illicit sources of divination (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Leviticus 19:31). This prohibition underscored the LORD's exclusive authority as the sole, ultimate, and trustworthy source of truth and guidance for His covenant people. Saul's actions in this chapter, encompassing both his legitimate inquiry and his subsequent forbidden act, must be understood against this backdrop of established religious practice, divine command, and the severe consequences of their violation.
Key Themes: 1 Samuel 28:6 powerfully illustrates the profound theme of divine silence as a severe form of judgment. Saul's persistent disobedience, culminating in his definitive rejection by God as king (1 Samuel 15:23), had irrevocably severed his covenant relationship with the LORD. God's absolute refusal to answer him highlights the devastating consequences of persistent rebellion, an unrepentant heart, and a king who had effectively abandoned his divine mandate. This verse also underscores the crucial theme of legitimate versus illegitimate means of seeking God's will. By explicitly listing the traditional, divinely ordained avenues of divine communication—dreams, Urim, and prophets—the text emphatically conveys that God had completely withdrawn His presence and counsel from Saul through all established and permissible channels. This complete withdrawal drives Saul to an act of desperate and forbidden consultation, thereby intensifying the overarching theme of spiritual decline and the tragic, self-destructive consequences of abandoning God's ways and seeking guidance outside His will. The verse also subtly touches on the theme of God's sovereignty, demonstrating that even a king's desperate pleas cannot force God to speak when He has chosen to remain silent as an act of judgment.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound and tragic message. Repetition is evident in the repeated negative phrasing, "neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets," which emphatically underscores the absolute and comprehensive nature of God's silence. This triple negation highlights that every legitimate and traditional avenue of divine communication was closed to Saul, accentuating the severity of his spiritual isolation and God's complete withdrawal. There is also a strong sense of Juxtaposition, vividly contrasting Saul's desperate "enquired of the LORD" with the LORD's unyielding and terrifying "answered him not." This stark opposition heightens the drama and the tragic reality of Saul's estranged and broken relationship with God. Furthermore, the verse functions as powerful Foreshadowing, signaling Saul's impending doom and tragic end. God's silence is presented as a definitive divine verdict, indicating that Saul has been abandoned and will face the Philistines without any divine aid or counsel, directly setting the stage for his ultimate defeat and death in the subsequent chapter. The lack of divine guidance inevitably pushes Saul to seek illicit means, further solidifying his tragic trajectory and sealing his fate.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 28:6 serves as a stark theological warning about the severe consequences of persistent disobedience and a broken covenant relationship with God. God's silence is not merely an absence of words but an active and deliberate judgment, a profound withdrawal of His presence, favor, and guiding counsel from a heart that has continually rebelled against Him. This verse powerfully underscores the biblical principle that intimacy and communication with God are predicated on a posture of humility, repentance, and obedience. When humanity hardens its heart against God's revealed will, it risks severing the very lifeline of divine counsel, comfort, and protection, leading to spiritual desolation, desperate choices, and ultimately, self-destruction. Saul's experience demonstrates that God will not be manipulated or forced to speak when His righteous judgment dictates silence.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound and terrifying silence that met Saul's desperate inquiry in 1 Samuel 28:6 offers a sober and critical reflection for believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder that while God is always omnipresent, His active communication, comforting presence, and guiding direction can indeed be hindered or seemingly withdrawn by unconfessed sin, a persistent pattern of disobedience, or a hardened heart. This passage challenges us to deeply examine the state of our own hearts and the quality of our relationship with God. Are we living in a manner that fosters open, unhindered communication with our Heavenly Father, or are there areas of unrepentant rebellion, compromise, or neglect that might be creating a spiritual chasm between us and His voice? God's primary means of communication with us today is through His inspired Word, the Bible, illuminated by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and through fervent, humble prayer. We are called to diligently and consistently engage with these legitimate avenues, seeking His wisdom and direction with a heart prepared to listen, obey, and repent, rather than resorting to worldly, ungodly, or desperate solutions when faced with fear, uncertainty, or overwhelming circumstances. Saul's tragic story stands as a powerful cautionary tale, urging us to prioritize a right relationship with God above all else, ensuring that our spiritual ears remain open and attuned to His life-giving voice.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God stop answering Saul?
Answer: God stopped answering Saul primarily because of Saul's persistent, escalating, and unrepentant disobedience to the LORD's explicit commands, which constituted a profound breach of his covenant responsibilities as king. Saul had repeatedly rebelled against God's instructions, most notably in his failure to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their livestock as commanded (1 Samuel 15), which led to God's definitive rejection of him as king (1 Samuel 15:23). God's silence was a direct and severe consequence of this broken covenant relationship, signifying His judicial withdrawal of His presence, favor, and guidance from a king who had chosen his own will and self-preservation over God's. It was a profound form of divine judgment, indicating that Saul had exhausted God's patience and forfeited the right to divine counsel through legitimate means.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound and terrifying silence encountered by King Saul in 1 Samuel 28:6 stands in stark and glorious contrast to God's ultimate, perfect, and eternally open communication through Jesus Christ. While Saul, a disobedient and rejected king, found every legitimate avenue of divine counsel closed, humanity now has full, unhindered, and perpetual access to God through the Son. Jesus is the Word made flesh, the complete, final, and most glorious revelation of God, far surpassing the temporary and partial communications through dreams, Urim, or ancient prophets. As the greatest Prophet, He speaks God's truth directly, perfectly, and with ultimate authority, fulfilling all prophetic expectations. As our Great High Priest, He offers a new and living way to approach God's throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16), an access that the Urim and the Old Covenant priesthood could only dimly foreshadow. And as the King of kings and Lord of lords, He establishes a new covenant where God's Spirit dwells within believers, guiding them into all truth (John 16:13) and enabling continuous communion. Saul's desperate and ultimately futile search for a word from God, which tragically led him to forbidden practices, highlights humanity's inherent and desperate need for divine guidance. In Christ, this fundamental need is met eternally and perfectly; He is the living Word, the ultimate answer, and the open door to an intimate and unbreakable communion with God, ensuring that those who are in Him will never experience the terrifying silence of divine abandonment that Saul endured.