Initially, Saul wanted guidance from the Lord as to how he should proceed. When it became clear to him that the Philistines were routing he did not want to miss the opportunity to attack, and he determined that it was no longer necessary for a special word from God.1
19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”