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1 Samuel

1 Samuelchapter 28

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Saul and the Witch of Endor — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

A.God answers not by dreams, nor Urim, nor prophetsvv. 1-6

1 Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.” 2 David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.” 3 Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4 The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. 6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

B.The woman at En-dor and an old man in a robevv. 7-14

7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. 8 So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” 9 But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” 10 Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.” 11 “Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied. 12 But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 “Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered. 14 “What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.

C.To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with mevv. 15-25

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away 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.” 16 “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” 20 Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night. 21 When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” 23 Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. 24 The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. 25 She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition
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Chapter summary

The Philistines muster and Saul's heart trembles greatly.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾

The Philistines muster and Saul's heart trembles greatly. Samuel is dead, and Saul himself had cleared the land of mediums; now 'Jehovah answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets' (28:6). So the king who purged the necromancers disguises himself, goes by night to the woman at En-dor, and asks her to bring up Samuel. Whatever she expected, she cries out at what comes: an old man covered with a robe, and Saul falls on his face. The word is worse than the silence: Jehovah hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand and given it to David; to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me. He falls his full length on the earth.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Samuel, Nathan, Gad — 1 Samuel overview

  • A. 1–6 God answers not by dreams, nor Urim, nor prophets
  • B. 7–14 The woman at En-dor and an old man in a robe
  • C. 15–25 To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
  • 1 Samuel 282 verses
    • 1 Samuel 28:3Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
    • 1 Samuel 28:6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
    • Read 1 Samuel 28 →
  • 1 Samuel 152 verses
    • 1 Samuel 15:9Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
    • 1 Samuel 15:27As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.
    • Read 1 Samuel 15 →
  • 1 Samuel 252 verses
    • 1 Samuel 25:1When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
    • 1 Samuel 25:37In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone.
    • Read 1 Samuel 25 →
  • Lamentations 22 verses
    • Lamentations 2:5The Lord is like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah.
    • Lamentations 2:9Her gates have sunk into the ground; He has destroyed and shattered their bars. Her king and her princes are exiled among the nations, the law is no more, and even her prophets find no vision from the LORD.
    • Read Lamentations 2 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
  • 1 Samuel 242 verses
    • 1 Samuel 24:8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
    • 1 Samuel 24:20Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
    • Read 1 Samuel 24 →
  • 1 Samuel 171 verse
  • 1 Samuel 291 verse
  • Judges 31 verse
    • Judges 3:1These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,
    • Read Judges 3 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.