I Shmuel 30: Why Ask the Question if you Know the Answer?

David and his troops return to Ziklag, but someone else got there first. Amalek attacked the city while David was out to battle with the Philistines. They destroyed the city and kidnapped the inhabitants (וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־צִקְלַג וַיִּשְׂרְפוּ אֹתָהּ בָּאֵשׁ. וַיִּשְׁבּוּ אֶת־הַנָּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּהּ מִקָּטֹן וְעַד־גָּדוֹל) (I Samuel 30:1–2). It was certainly a blunder to leave the city unprotected. But David made the political choice to go to battle with Achish as a way to keep his position with the Philistines secured. Had he not gone, or left some soldiers behind, he may have raised further suspicion with the Philistine king. In any event, David does something curious after the troops voice their displeasure: “David was in great danger, for the troops threatened to stone him; for all the troops were embittered on account of their sons and daughters. But David sought strength in the LORD his God” (וַתֵּצֶר לְדָוִד מְאֹד כִּי־אָמְרוּ הָעָם לְסׇקְלוֹ כִּי־מָרָה נֶפֶשׁ כׇּל־הָעָם אִישׁ עַל־בָּנָיו וְעַל־בְּנֹתָיו וַיִּתְחַזֵּק דָּוִד בַּה׳ אֱלֹהָיו) (verse 6). Why did David need to ask God if he should go to rescue the people? It seems obvious that the best course of action would be to go try to save his wives and his troops’ families. Perhaps the attack on Ziklag was punishment from God for joining with the Philistines to potentially attack the Israelites. David would therefore be concerned that going to attack Amalek may lead to further disaster. It is also possible that David knew that he needed to save the people, but he was concerned that his troops were distraught. He asks God if he should go (וַיִּשְׁאַל דָּוִד בַּה׳ לֵאמֹר הַאֶרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵי הַגְּדוּד הַזֶּה הַאַשִּׂגֶנּוּ) (I Samuel 30:8), knowing full well God would say yes. The yes was not for David, but for the troops. Hearing God support the counterattack helps rally the troops and secure the victory. Indeed, God responds unequivocally: רְדֹף כִּי־הַשֵּׂג תַּשִּׂיג וְהַצֵּל תַּצִּיל (“Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and shall surely rescue [the captives]”) (I Samuel 30:8). This also is in contrast with Shaul from chapter 28 who was unable to converse with God and instead needed to resort to searching for a necromancer.