1 Samuel chapter 28

Saul foolishly consults a Medium.

 


 

SAUL FOOLISHLY CONSULTS A MEDIUM

 

VERSE 1. In those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, “Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the army, you and your men.”

 

VERSE 2. David said to Achish, “Therefore you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.”

 

VERSE 3. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had sent away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land.

Saul had sent away … familiar spirits … wizards. In ancient times, the Jewish people were forbidden from going to a Medium or a Necromancer. Why was that? Read more »

 

VERSE 4. The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.

Saul gathered all Israel together. Saul finally succeeded in doing  something. He united his nation against a common enemy.

 

VERSE 5. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

 

VERSE 6. When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD didn’t answer him by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.

the LORD didn’t answer. The LORD God did not answer Saul.

Has the LORD God ever not answered you?

 

VERSE 7. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.”

NIV translation. 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.

a woman who has a familiar spirit. The Hebrew word is א֔וֹב (“’ō·wḇ,”). It means a “medium” or a necromancer.

Some commentators paraphrase it as “witch.” But that is not warranted.

 

VERSE 8. Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. Then he said, “Please consult for me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you.”

 

VERSE 9. The woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”

Saul … cut off … familiar spirits, and the wizards. Saul had driven out all the necromancers. But he did not do it out of personal conviction. Rather, he did it to please his constituents.

In ancient times, the Jewish people were forbidden from going to a Medium or a Necromancer. Why was that? Read more »

 

VERSE 10. Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”

 

VERSE 11. Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up to you?” He said, “Bring Samuel up for me.”

Bring Samuel up for me. King Saul naively assumes the prophet Samuel will help him.

That probably stems from Saul’s narcissistic personality. And his gross incompetence. Saul was a terrible leader and a terrible human being.

The prophet Samuel would be more likely to reject Saul than to help him.

 

VERSE 12. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”

you are Saul! Samuel reveals to the medium the deception of king Saul.

 

VERSE 13. The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”

 a god coming up out of the earth. That is, “a preternatural being.”

 

VERSE 14. He said to her, “What does he look like?” She said, “An old man comes up. He is covered with a robe.” Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and showed respect.

 

VERSE 15. Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?” Saul answered, “I am very distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me no more, by prophets, or by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.”

or by dreams. In ancient times, the LORD God sometimes made his guidance known to people in their dreams. Even today, this is still possible for the all-powerful LORD God. Read more »

 

VERSE 16. Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary?

 

VERSE 17. The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.

 

VERSE 18. Because you didn’t obey the LORD’s voice, and didn’t execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today.

 

VERSE 19. Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Saul has only one day left to live.

Sirach 46:20. And after he fell asleep he prophesied, And showed the king his end, And lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, To blot out the wickedness of the people.

 

VERSE 20. Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of Samuel’s words. There was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all day long or all night long.

 

VERSE 21. The woman came to Saul, and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, “Behold, your servant has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.

 

VERSE 22. Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your servant, and let me set a morsel of bread before you. Eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way.”

 

VERSE 23. But he refused, and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.

 

VERSE 24. The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread of it.

 

VERSE 25. She brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

 


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1 SAMUEL

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