So Saul died for his transgression The sense is, wonder not that Saul fell by the hands of the Philistines, who were armed against him by his own sin, and by God's vengeance for it. Against the word of the Lord Against God's express, and plain, and positive command; which is a great aggravation of any sin. For asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit Which also was contrary to a manifest command,
(Leviticus 19:31,) and moreover contrary to his own conscience, which was so fully convinced of the evil of such practices, that he had endeavoured the utter extirpation of all such persons, in pursuance of God's law, 1 Samuel 28:9. To inquire of it Concerning the event of the approaching battle.