1 Samuel 28:1-10

Saul and the Spirit Medium

1 Now it came about in those days that ¹the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men."

2 David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." So Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard * ²for life *."

3 Now ³Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him ⁴in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed from the land those who ⁵were mediums and spiritists.

4 So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped ⁶in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in ⁷Gilboa.

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

6 ⁸When Saul inquired of the LORD, ⁹the LORD did not answer him, either by ¹⁰dreams or by ¹¹Urim or by prophets.

7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek for me a woman who is a medium *, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, ¹²there is a woman who is a medium * at ¹³En-dor."

8 Then Saul ¹⁴disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, "¹⁵Conjure up for me, please, and ¹⁶bring up for me whom I shall name to you."

9 But the woman said to him, "Behold, you know ¹⁷what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?"

10 Saul vowed to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing."

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1 Samuel 28:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 28

The Philistines gathering together, to fight with Israel, Saul trembled at it, not being able to get any answer from the Lord about it in any way whatever, 1Sa 28:1-6; upon which he applies to a woman that had a familiar spirit to bring him up Samuel, which she did, 1Sa 28:7-14; and what passed between Saul and Samuel, or at least the apparition in his form, is recorded, 1Sa 28:15-19; which so struck him, as to make him strengthless, and so melancholy, that he refused to eat until persuaded, or rather compelled, by the woman and his servants, 1Sa 28:20-25.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 17

1. 1 Samuel 29:1
2. 1 Samuel 1:22, 28
3. 1 Samuel 25:1
4. 1 Samuel 7:17
5. Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10; 1 Samuel 15:23
6. Joshua 19:18; 1 Samuel 28:4; 1 Kings 1:3; 2 Kings 4:8
7. 1 Samuel 31:1
8. 1 Chronicles 10:13, 14
9. 1 Samuel 14:37; Proverbs 1:24-31
10. Numbers 12:6; Joel 2:28
11. Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21
12. Acts 16:16
13. Joshua 17:11; Psalms 83:10
14. 2 Chronicles 18:29; 2 Chronicles 35:22
15. 1 Chronicles 10:13; Isaiah 8:19
16. Deuteronomy 18:10, 11
17. 1 Samuel 28:3

Footnotes 2

[a]. Lit "keeper of my head"
[b]. Lit "say"