21:30a but David could not go before it to inquire of God,

David could not go to the Holy Tent to speak with God (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
However, David did not go to Gibeon to ask what Yahweh wanted him to do.

21:30b because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

because he was afraid. He was afraid of the angel Yahweh’s and the angel’s sword.
-or-
He was terrified that Yahweh’s angel might kill him with his sword.

21:30a–b (reordered)

But David was afraid of Yahweh’s angel and his sword. Therefore he/David did not go to Gibeon to seek advice from God. That’s where the sacred tent that Moses had made in the desert was kept. The altar where sacrifices were offered to Yahweh was at the same place in Gibeon.

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