1 Samuel 28:4-19

4 The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.

5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and trembled violently.

6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets.^[a]

7 Saul then said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her." His servants replied, "There is a woman at Endor who is a medium."

8 Saul disguised himself^[b] by putting on different clothes and 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 tell you."

9 But the woman said to him, "You surely know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed?"

10 Then Saul swore to her by the Lord: "As surely as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you because of this."

11 "Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?" the woman asked. "Bring up Samuel for me," he answered.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, "Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!"

13 But the king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" "I see a spirit form^[c] coming up out of the earth," the woman answered.

14 Then Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" "An old man is coming up," she replied. "He's wearing a robe." Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and paid homage.

15 "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Samuel asked Saul. "I'm in serious trouble," replied Saul. "The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me any more, either through the prophets or in dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what I should do."

16 Samuel answered, "Since the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me?

17 The Lord has done^[d] exactly what He said through me: The Lord has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.^[e]

18 You did not obey the Lord and did not carry out His wrath against Amalek;^[f] therefore the Lord has done this to you today.

19 The Lord will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me,^[g] and the Lord will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."

1 Samuel 28:4-19 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ex 28:30; Nm 27:21; 1 Kg 3:5
• [b]. 2 Ch 18:29; 35:21-22
• [c]. Or a god, or a divine being
• [d]. Some Hb, LXX mss, Vg read done to you
• [e]. 1 Sm 15:28
• [f]. 1 Sm 15:1-9
• [g]. LXX reads sons will fall