And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Ver. 19. And when they shall say unto you.] The prophet's wholesome advice to his disciples. God had hid his face and withdrawn his favour from this people; therefore they would help themselves as they could, by doing as Saul did when forsaken of God, by running to witches and wizards, resolving with her in the poet -
“ Flectere si nequo superos, Acheronta movebo. ”
That peep and that mutter.] Utter their predictions in broken and low language, grunting or grumbling them out in dark and doubtful expressions, as distrusting their own art.
Should not a people seek unto their God?] See Jer 2:11 Micah 4:5. Our God is a rewarder of all that diligently seek him, or that "seek him out" Heb 11:6 - viz., when he hath withdrawn himself and hid his face. as Isa 8:17
For the living to the dead,] q.d., Is that handsome? is it agreeable to right reason? O stultam commutationem! vocat nos Deus vivus, et nos recurrimus ad mortuos. a
a Oecolamp.