1 Samuel 28:2-12

2 "Of course," David answered. "I am your servant, and you will see for yourself what I can do." Achish said, "Good! I will make you my permanent bodyguard."
3 Now Samuel had died, and all the Israelites had mourned for him and had buried him in his hometown of Ramah. Saul had forced all the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel. 1
4 The Philistine troops assembled and camped near the town of Shunem; Saul gathered the Israelites and camped at Mount Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was terrified,
6 and so he asked the Lord what to do. But the Lord did not answer him at all, either by dreams or by the use of Urim and Thummim or by prophets. 2
7 Then Saul ordered his officials, "Find me a woman who is a medium, and I will go and consult her." "There is one in Endor," they answered.
8 So Saul disguised himself; he put on different clothes, and after dark he went with two of his men to see the woman. "Consult the spirits for me and tell me what is going to happen," he said to her. "Call up the spirit of the man I name."
9 The woman answered, "Surely you know what King Saul has done, how he forced the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel. Why, then, are you trying to trap me and get me killed?"
10 Then Saul made a sacred vow. "By the living Lord I promise that you will not be punished for doing this," he told her.
11 "Whom shall I call up for you?" the woman asked. 3 "Samuel," he answered.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, "Why have you tricked me? You are King Saul!"

1 Samuel 28:2-12 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.

Cross References 3

  • 1. 28.3 1 S 25.1.+O+N28.3Leviticus 20.27;Deuteronomy 18.10, 11.
  • 2. 28.6Numbers 27.21.
  • 3. +228.11Ben Sira 46.20.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. he forced . . . Israel; [or] he put to death the fortunetellers and mediums in Israel.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.