1 Samuel 28:10

10 But Saul promised to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you won't get into trouble for this."

1 Samuel 28:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 28:10

And Saul sware to her by the Lord
By the Word of the Lord, as the Targum: it is much that Saul, being about such a work of darkness and wickedness, could take the name of the Lord into his mouth, and swear by him in such a solemn manner; which must surely put him in mind of his omniscience, from whom this wicked action could not be hid:

saying, [as] the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee
for this thing;
the tenor of the oath was, and so the woman understood it, that he would never make any discovery of what she did, and so she would be sat from punishment; though as he was the supreme governor, and a very arbitrary prince, had it been discovered, he could have screened her from justice, though contrary to the law of God; however, he could not secure her from eternal punishment.

1 Samuel 28:10 In-Context

8 So Saul disguised himself, dressing in different clothes. Then he and two men set out, going to the woman at nighttime. "Please call up a ghost for me! Bring me the one I specify," Saul said.

9 "Listen," the woman said to him, "you know what Saul has done, how he has banned all mediums and diviners from the land. What are you doing? Trying to get me killed?"

10 But Saul promised to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you won't get into trouble for this."

11 So the woman said, "Who do you want me to bring up for you?" "Bring up Samuel," he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed at Saul, "Why have you tricked me? You are Saul!"