Did he or didn't he?

[Athetotheist]

And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.
(1 Samuel 28:6-7)

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; and enquired not of the Lord
(1Chronicles 10:13-14)

How exactly are these to be reconciled?

[1213]

And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.
(1 Samuel 28:6-7)

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; and enquired not of the Lord
(1Chronicles 10:13-14)

How exactly are these to be reconciled?

He first enquired and later didn't.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #2]

He first enquired and later didn't.

Then why does the chronicler simply say that he "enquired not"?

And if he were given an answer when he enquired, he wouldn't have to enquire again "later" and so there would be no legitimate punishment for not doing so.

[1213]

[Replying to 1213 in post #2]

He first enquired and later didn't.

Then why does the chronicler simply say that he "enquired not"?

Because at that time he didn't so so.

And if he were given an answer when he enquired, he wouldn't have to enquire again "later" and so there would be no legitimate punishment for not doing so.

The punishment was for "his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it". And he should not have done that in any case.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #4]

The punishment was for "his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it". And he should not have done that in any case.

According to the chronicler, Saul was punished for "his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; and enquired not of the Lord".

Samuel says that Saul did enquire of Jehovah, which would mean that the chronicler was bearing false witness against Saul [or that he was making a false statement in ignorance, either of which would rule out divine inspiration].

[1213]

[Replying to 1213 in post #4]

The punishment was for "his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it". And he should not have done that in any case.

According to the chronicler, Saul was punished for "his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; and enquired not of the Lord".

Samuel says that Saul did enquire of Jehovah, which would mean that the chronicler was bearing false witness against Saul [or that he was making a false statement in ignorance, either of which would rule out divine inspiration].

Sorry, i disagree with you. It is possible they are both true. when Saul was young, he did enquire of Jehovah. But later he rejected god and did not enquire of Jehovah, when he was "asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit".

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #6]

Sorry, i disagree with you. It is possible they are both true. when Saul was young, he did enquire of Jehovah. But later he rejected god and did not enquire of Jehovah, when he was "asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit".

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said.

So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
(1 Samuel 28:3-9)

Samuel makes it clear that Saul enquires of Jehovah because he is afraid when he sees the Philistine army. This is after he expels the mediums and spiritists from the land, and he goes to a wise woman because he gets no answer from Jehovah. This is confirmed in his appeal to Samuel in verse 15:

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

This makes the chronicler's charge against Saul false.

[1213]

...
This makes the chronicler's charge against Saul false.

I don't think so. It can be that Saul stopped inquiring God when he didn't get answers.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #8]

I don't think so. It can be that Saul stopped inquiring God when he didn't get answers.

Yes, that's exactly what the text says happens. The point is that Saul goes to the witch because he has gotten no answer to his inquiries of Jehovah. The chronicler accuses Saul of not seeking an answer from Jehovah, and the text of Samuel clearly refutes that accusation.

[1213]

...The chronicler accuses Saul of not seeking an answer from Jehovah, and the text of Samuel clearly refutes that accusation.

Sorry, I don't think that is true. Telling what someone did earlier doesn't mean that the person did so in the end also.