And: the common conjunction here is much more likely to have the force of a logical connector, since Saul’s inquiring of God comes as a direct result of the priest’s insistence. New Revised Standard Version, like Good News Translation, begins this verse with “So.”

Inquired of God: see the comments on 10.20 and 22.

Into the hand of Israel: on the metaphorical use of hand, see the comments on 4.8.

In those languages where a direct quotation is not appropriate, translators may consider the following model:

• So Saul asked God whether he should go down and fight against the Philistines. He wanted to know if God would cause the Israelites to be victorious.

But he did not … that day: that God did not answer Saul’s question was understood as an indication that someone had sinned against God (compare the similar thought in Isa 59.2).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .