‘ And they said to him, “Ask counsel, we pray you, of God, that we may know whether our way in which we go will be prosperous.” '
When they heard what his position was they asked him to make enquiry of God on their behalf whether they would prosper in what they were trying to do. It is noteworthy that they accepted his position without demur. Such was the state of Israel's response to the covenant and its stipulations at the time. Note also that they spoke of ‘God'. The writer would not use Yahweh because the venture they were on was contrary to the covenant.