And they said unto him, ask counsel, we pray thee, of
God
They did not reprove him for assuming the priestly office, when
they knew he was a Levite, such was the corruption of those
times, and the great depravity and declensions they were fallen
into; nor even for the idolatry he was guilty of, but encourage
him in it, and thought they had got a fine opportunity, which
they readily laid hold on, to have counsel asked for them of God,
about the success of the errand they were sent about; to this
they were led at sight of the ephod, which was like that in the
tabernacle, and of the teraphim, images which, according to a
notion that prevailed, when consulted, foretold future things;
whether by God they meant the true God, who they thought would
give an answer by these, or Micah's gods, is not certain;
according to the Targum of Jonathan, they meant the true God,
which paraphrases it,
``ask of the Word of the Lord:''that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous or no;