1Sa 28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
for warfare to fight with Israel - with whom they were continually at war, and though sometimes there was a cessation of arms, yet never any settled peace; and the Philistines took every opportunity and advantage against them, as they now did; when David was among them, and so had nothing to fear from him, but rather expected his assistance; and Samuel was dead, and Saul in a frenzy:
assuredly that thou shall go with me to battle - against Israel; which was a trying thing to David, and whereby he was like to be drawn into a dilemma; either to fight against his country, which he could not do conscientiously; or be guilty of ingratitude to Achish, and incur his displeasure, and be liable to be turned out of his country, or treated in a worse manner, even he and his men, to be seized on and killed, should he refuse.
1Sa 28:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
Thou shalt know what thy servant can do - This answer, while it seemed to express an apparent cheerfulness in agreeing to the proposal, contained a studied ambiguity--a wary and politic generality. David dissembled, hoping, no doubt, that something would happen to prevent his fighting against his king and country.
Thou shalt know what thy servant can do - David could not refuse Achish without danger. If he promised assistance, and then stood neutral, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. If he fought against Israel , he would sin greatly.
Keeper of mine head - Captain of his bodyguard, an office of great trust and high honor.
Achish said to David - putting confidence in him on account of his answer, and believing he was hearty in engaging in the war with the Philistines against Israel :
1Sa 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards - It does not appear when Saul had suppressed witchcraft; it was probably in the early part of his reign.
Now Samuel is dead--This event is here alluded to as affording an explanation of the secret and improper methods by which Saul sought information and direction in the present crisis of his affairs. Overwhelmed in perplexity and fear, he yet found the common and legitimate channels of communication with Heaven shut against him. And so, under the impulse of that dark, distempered, superstitious spirit which had overmastered him, he resolved, in desperation, to seek the aid of one of those fortune telling impostors whom, in accordance with the divine command Lev_19:31 You shall not turn to those that have familiar spirits, nor seek to spiritists to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Lev_20:6 And the soul that turns to mediums, and to spirit-knowers, to go lusting after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Lev_20:27 A man also or woman that has a medium or that is a necromancer, shall surely be put to death. They shall stone them with stones. Their blood is on them. Deu_18:10-12 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead. For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. he had set himself formerly to exterminate from his kingdom.
1Sa 28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
Gilboa and Shunem – Gilboa was separated from Shunem by the deep valley of Jezreel . The Philistines either advanced along the seacoast, and then entered the valley of Jezreel from the west, or they came by the present road right through Samaria , starting from Aphek 1Sa_29:1. Shunem is a city, in the borders of the tribe of Issachar. Gilboa is a range of mountains.
1Sa 28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled - on sight of the numbers of them, and thinking perhaps of the death of Samuel, and of the loss of David; who was now among the Philistines, and might possibly fight against him, and for the Philistines; and his conscience might accuse him of various sins he had been guilty of, for which he might fear the Lord would now reckon with him.
1Sa 28:6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
when Saul inquired of the Lord - And this being not done truly and heartily, nor continued in, it was as if he had not inquired, and especially after he had inquired of one that had a familiar spirit.
When Saul inquired of the Lord - It is said 1Ch_10:13-14 And Saul died for his sin which he committed against the LORD, against the word of the LORD, which he did not keep, and also for seeking of a medium, to inquire, and inquired not of the LORD. And He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. that one reason why the Lord killed Saul, and gave his kingdom to David, was because he inquired not of the Lord. The explanation of this apparent discrepancy is to be found in the fact that inquiring of the familiar spirit was positively antagonistic to inquiring of the Lord. That Saul received no answer - when he “inquired of the Lord” by dreams, which was an immediate revelation to himself; by Urim, which was an answer through the high priest clothed in the ephod; or by prophets, which was an answer conveyed through some seer speaking by the Word of the Lord 1Sa_22:5 - was a reason for self-abasement and self-examination, to find out and, if possible, remove the cause, but was no justification whatever of his sin in asking counsel of familiar spirits.
The Lord answered him not - He used the three methods by which supernatural intelligence was ordinarily given: -
1. Dreams. - The person prayed for instruction; and begged that God would answer by a significant dream.
2. Urim. - This was a kind of oracular answer given to the high priest when clothed with the ephod, on which were the Urim and Thummim. How these communicated the answer, is not well known.
3. Prophets. - Who were requested by the party concerned to consult the Lord on the subject in question, and to report his answer. The prophets at that time could only be those in the schools of the prophets, which Samuel had established at Naioth and Gibeah. These were the only successors of Samuel that we know of.
neither by dreams - which he dreamed himself, from whence he could not conclude anything relating to the will of God;
nor by Urim - there being no priest to consult in this way, Abiathar having fled with the ephod, in which were the Urim and Thummim, to David, 1Sa_23:9;
nor by prophets - of which there was a school not far from him, even at Naioth in Ramah, of which Samuel in his lifetime was head; but neither by the one nor the other could Saul get an answer from God, who for his sins had departed from him.
1Sa 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
Enquire - A different word from that in 1Sa_28:6, though nearly synonymous with it. It is more frequently applied to inquiry of a false god, as e. g. 2Ki_1:2; Isa_8:19; Isa_19:3.
Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit - one who had a familiar spirit, whom she could invoke when she pleased, and receive answers from it relative to futurity. Saul desires the woman to bring one from the dead, with whom he wished to speak; this was expressly forbidden, Deu_18:11. All real or pretended witchcraft or conjuration, is a malicious or an ignorant attempt to gain knowledge or help from some creature, when it cannot be had from the Lord in the path of duty.
Endor - This was a city in the tribe of Manasseh, in the valley of Jezreel , at the foot of Mount Gilboa , where the army of Saul had now encamped.
Endor--was situated directly on the other side of the Gilboa range, opposite Tabor; so that, in this midnight adventure, Saul had to pass over the shoulder of the ridge on which the Philistines were encamped.
1Sa 28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
Saul disguised himself - Stripped himself of his royal robes, or military apparel, as supreme commander, and clothed himself in the habit of a peasant or a common soldier; and this not only that he might not be known by the woman, but that he might pass from his army incognito, and it might not be known that he was gone, and especially whither he was gone:
The story has led to much discussion whether there was a real appearance of Samuel or not. Many eminent writers, considering that the apparition came before her arts were put in practice; that she herself was surprised and alarmed; that the prediction of Saul's own death and the defeat of his forces was confidently made, are of opinion that Samuel really appeared.
1Sa 28:9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
thou knowest what Saul hath done - for by his speech and habit she perceived he was an Israelite, and so must be acquainted with what had passed in the nation, especially of a public nature.
out of the land - as many of them as he had knowledge of; and by this it appears that he did not merely expel them his dominions, but he put them to death, according to the law of God, Exo_22:18; one should think for Saul to be told this to his face must fill him with shame and confusion, and his conscience must accuse him of sin and folly to make this attempt; and he must stand self-convicted and self-condemned; and it should have been enough to have deterred him from pursuing his scheme, had not his heart been hardened:
wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life - she suspected that Saul and his men were persons that came to entrap her; that when they had prevailed upon her to exercise her art, would turn informers against her, to the taking away of her life, it being death to practice it.
1Sa 28:10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
Saul sware to her by the Lord - an oath which showed how utterly hardened Saul was. 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:
there shall no punishment happen to thee - he could have screened her from earthly justice, though contrary to the law of God; however, he could not secure her from eternal punishment.
In his distress, Saul inquired of the Lord. He did not seek in faith, but with a double, unstable mind. Saul had put the law in force against those that had familiar spirits, Exo_22:18. Many seem zealous against, sin, when they are any way hurt by it, who have no concern for the glory of God, nor any dislike of sin as sin. Many seem enemies to sin in others, while they indulge it in themselves. Saul will drive the devil out of his kingdom, yet harbors him in his heart by envy and malice.
1Sa 28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
Whom shall I bring up - The woman certainly meant no more than making her familiar personify whomsoever the querist should wish. In the evocation of spirits this is all that, according to the professed rules of their art, such persons pretend to; for over human souls in paradise or in the infernal regions they have no power. If we allow that there is such an art founded on true principles, all it can pretend to is, to bring up the familiar; cause him when necessary to assume the form and character of some particular person, and to give such notices relative to futurity as he is able to collect. And this even in the cases to which authenticity is generally allowed, is often scanty, vague, and uncertain, for fallen spirits do not abound in knowledge: this is an attribute of God; and even Satan himself, as may be seen from most of his temptations, is far from excelling in knowledge. He may be cunning and insidious, but he certainly is not wise and prudent; we in general give this fallen spirit credit for much more wisdom than he possesses.
whom shall I bring up - For such persons, according to their profession, pretended they were able to bring up any of the dead, that he who inquired of them should name:
1Sa 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
When the woman saw Samuel - That Samuel did appear on this occasion, is most evident from the text; it is evident that he was neither raised by the power of the devil nor the incantations of the witch, for the appearances which took place at this time were such as she was wholly unacquainted with. Her familiar did not appear; and from the confused description she gives, it is fully evident that she was both surprised and alarmed at what she saw, being so widely different from what she expected to see.
The woman saw Samuel - The words are express, the woman saw Samuel, instead of the spirit whom she expected to see, God ordering it so for his own glory.
The woman saw Samuel - It is manifest both that the apparition of Samuel was real, and also that the woman was utterly unprepared for it.The whole shows that it was no human fraud or trick. Though the woman could not cause Samuel's being sent, yet Saul's inquiry might be the occasion of it. The woman's surprise and terror proved that it was an unusual and unexpected appearance. Saul had despised Samuel's solemn warnings in his lifetime, yet now that he hoped, in defiance of God, to obtain some counsel and encouragement from him. God could permit the soul of his departed prophet to appear to Saul, to confirm his former sentence, and denounce his doom.
Why hast thou deceived me - She perhaps inferred that Samuel would have answered the call of none inferior to the king. Or it may be the presence of an inhabitant of the world of spirits brought a sudden illumination to her mind.
1Sa 28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
I saw gods ascending out of the earth - The word elohim, which we translate gods, is the word which is used for the Supreme Being throughout the Bible; but is here used in a general sense of a supernatural appearance, either angel or spirit.
I saw gods ascending out of the earth - Elohim does not signify gods here, nor yet God; still less an angel or a ghost, or even a person of superior rank, but a celestial (super-terrestrial), heavenly, or spiritual being.
And the king said unto her, be not afraid - Meaning not of the apparition, but of him; since he had sworn no punishment should come upon her, and he would observe his oath:
1Sa 28:14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
An old man cometh up - perhaps a second apparition; she cannot mean that she had seen gods ascending out of the earth, and these gods were like an old man with a mantle. The angelic appearance first mentioned prepared the way for Samuel; and the whole was done so as to show to the woman that her art had not prevailed in the present instance, and that what was now taking place was wholly independent of her incantations.
he is covered with a mantle - such as either priests or judges wore, and Samuel did in his lifetime:
1Sa 28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
Why hast thou disquieted me - The complaint is not directed against the woman but against Saul. Indeed, her incantations had no influence in the business, and it does not appear that she had commenced her operations before the angels had prepared the way of the prophet, and before the prophet himself had made his appearance.
That thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do - now he applies to him as prophet. God, he knew, might answer by such a man as Samuel, when he would answer by no other means.
neither by prophets, nor by dreams - he makes no mention of Urim, either because they were not with him to inquire by, being carried away by Abiathar when he fled to David, 1Sa_23:9.
therefore have I called thee - which was downright madness and folly to imagine, that since God had forsaken him, and would give him no answer, that a prophet of his should take his part; or when he could get no answer from a prophet of God on earth, that he could expect an agreeable one from one fetched down from heaven: There is a contradiction, however, in Saul's reply: for if God had forsaken him, he could not expect any answer from Him; and if God did not reply to his inquiry through the regularly appointed media of His revelation, how could he hope to obtain any divine revelation through the help of a witch? Truly, if he perceived that God was hostile to him, he ought to have been all the more afraid, lest His enmity should be increased by his breach of His laws. But fear and superstition never reason. Samuel points out this contradiction (1Sa_28:16): “Why dost thou ask me, since Jehovah hath departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?”
1Sa 28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
1Sa 28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
Hath done to him – There seems to be some debate about the word “him”. Most scholars, commentators and bible versions say to him is a reference to Saul (such as the ESV) while others think it is a reference to God (such as the MKJV) or a reference to David. Some eliminate the words “to him” altogether. They are not in the original Hebrew. The meaning of the verse is not changed. 1Sa 28:17 And Jehovah has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For Jehovah has torn the kingdom out of your hand and is giving it to your neighbor, to David. (MKJV) 1Sa 28:17 The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. (ESV) 1Sa 28:17 "The LORD has done accordingly as He spoke through me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David. (NASB) 1 Sam 28:17 And the Lord has done to thee, as the Lord spoke by me; and the Lord will rend thy kingdom out of thy hand, and will give it to thy neighbour David. (Septuagint)
As he spake by me – This phrase shows that this was no illusion; none but Samuel could say this. Some say it was pretending to be the true Samuel, and wearing the guise of him, however whatever or whomever was speaking to Saul gave a prophetic response. I believe it was indeed Samuel whom the Lord raised up at this time for a pronouncement of doom on Saul.
1Sa 28:18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord - At Gilgal; which is the first thing for which the kingdom was threatened to be taken from him, 1Sa 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Jehovah your God, which He commanded you. For now Jehovah would have established your kingdom on Israel forever. In many other instances in Saul’s life he has not obeyed the Lord. For all of them, he faces judgment.
nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek - in sparing Agag, and the best of the cattle, against the expressed command of God. 1Sa_15
1Sa 28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
the Lord will also deliver Israel into the hands of the Philistines - Saul had not only brought ruin upon his own house but upon Israel also; and when Saul and Jonathan fell the camp would be plundered by the conquerors 1Sa_31:8; 2Sa_1:10.
the Lord will also deliver Israel into the hands of the Philistines - There is considerable diversity of opinion, both among learned and pious men, relative to this appearance to Saul. But the most probable opinion seems to be, that Samuel himself did actually appear to Saul, not by the power of enchantment, but by the appointment and especial mercy of God, to warn this infatuated monarch of his approaching end, that he might be reconciled with his Maker. There is not the smallest intimation of chicanery or Satanic influence given in the text; but on the contrary, from the plain and obvious meaning of the language employed, it is perfectly evident that it was Samuel himself, Shemooel hoo, as it is expressed in 1Sa_28:14. Indeed the very soul of Samuel seems to breathe in his expressions of displeasure against the disobedience and wickedness of Saul; while the awful prophetic denunciations which accordingly came to pass, were such as neither human nor diabolical wisdom could foresee, and which could only be known to God himself, and to those to whom he chose to reveal them.
You and your sons shall be with me - these words may only mean, ye shall surely die, without any reference to the state of their souls after death.
1Sa 28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth - Literally, he fell with his own length, or with the fullness of his stature. He was so overwhelmed with this most dreadful message, that he swooned away, and thus fell at his own length upon the ground. The woman, being terrified, had probably withdrawn to some distance at the first appearance of the prophet; and Saul was left alone with Samuel. After some short time, the woman came again unto Saul, found him sore troubled.
Was sorely afraid - Though terrified even to despair, he was not humbled. He confessed not his sins, offered no sacrifices, and presented no supplications. He does not seem to have cared about his sons or his people, or to have attempted any escape; but in sullen despair he rushed upon his doom.
Was sorely afraid - Whilst Saul derived no comfort from his visit to the witch at Endor, but simply heard from the mouth of Samuel the confirmation of his rejection on the part of God, and an announcement of his approaching fate, David was delivered, through the interposition of God, from the danger of having to fight against his own people.
1Sa 28:21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice - in divining by her familiar spirit for him, and in bringing up Samuel to him, as he desired, although it was not by her arts that Samuel appeared.
I have put my life in my hand - exposed it to the utmost danger, since a person of her profession, and token in the exercise of it, was punishable with death; and especially she was in the greater danger, as it was Saul himself, who had by an edict expelled all such persons from his dominions, who now employed her:
have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest - to the oath he had taken, that no hurt should come to her, which she confided in, and relied upon, and to what he bid her do, according to her art of divination.
1Sa 28:22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid - She argues, that as she had hearkened unto him to the endangering of her life, it was but reasonable, and might be expected, that he would hearken to her in a case that would be to the preservation of his life:
let me set a morsel of bread before thee - which she might urge, not merely out of respect to the king, but for her own sake, lest should he die in her house, she might be taken up, not only for a witch, but as being accessory to the death of the king.
1Sa 28:23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
I will not eat - perhaps his meaning is, he could not eat, his stomach loathed it, being overwhelmed with grief and trouble:
1Sa 28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
The woman had a fat calf - In hot countries they could not keep flesh meat by them any length of time; hence they generally kept young animals, such as calves, lambs, and kids, ready for slaughter; and when there was occasion, one of them was killed, and dressed immediately. This was reckoned a very dainty dish in those countries, and fit for any guests.
Unleavened bread - There was not time to bake leavened bread; that would have taken considerable time, in order that the leaven might leaven the whole lump.
1Sa 28:25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
