1 Samuel 31

1Sa 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

Now the Philistines fought - This is the continuation of the account given in 1Sa_29:1-11. Having come to Jezreel where Israel pitched, 1Sa_29:1; they fell upon them, began the battle:

The men of Israel fled - It seems as if they were thrown into confusion at the first onset, and turned their backs upon their enemies.

1Sa 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

Followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons - Stuck to him, pushed him close, bore hard upon him in that part of the battle where he was.

the Philistines slew Jonathan - who is mentioned first, being the eldest son, and perhaps first slain; and this was so ordered by the providence of God, that David's way to the throne might be more clear and easy; for though Jonathan would not have opposed him himself, knowing David was the Lord's anointed, this would have looked as if he had made him king, and not the Lord:

Abinadab and Malchishua, Saul's sons - these also were slain; former of these is called Ishui, 1Sa_14:49; Ishbosheth either was not in the battle, being left at home, as unfit for war, or to take care of the kingdom; or else he fled with Abner, and others, and escaped, and who was to be a trial to David.

Jonathan - David's dear friend; God so ordering it for the farther exercise of David's faith and patience; and that David might depend upon God alone for his crown, and receive it solely from him, and not from Jonathan; who doubtless, had he lived, would have speedily settled the crown upon David's head. There was also a special providence of God, in taking away Jonathan, (who of all Saul's sons, seems to have been the fairest for the crown) for preventing divisions, which might have happened amongst the people concerning the successor: David's way to the crown being by this means made the more clear.

1Sa 31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

He was sore wounded of the archers - It is likely that Saul’s sons were slain by the archers, and that Saul was now mortally wounded by the same. Had not Saul been grievously wounded, and beyond hope of recovery, he would not have wished his armor-bearer to dispatch him; as he might have continued still to fight, or have made his escape from this most disastrous battle.

He was sore wounded of the archers - He seems to have bravely maintained his ground for some time longer; but exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading that if he fell alive into the enemy's hands, they would insolently maltreat him (Jos_8:29; Jos_10:24; Jdg_8:21), he requested his armor bearer to dispatch him.

1Sa 31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

Then said Saul unto his armourbearer - Who, the Jews say, was Doeg the Edomite, promoted to this office for slaying the priests: if so, then Saul and his executioner fell by the same sword with which they massacred the priests of God.

lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me - lest they should not dispatch him at once, but put him to a lingering and torturing death, and insult him, and mock at him, as they did Samson:

his armorbearer would not, for he was sore afraid - to lay his hand on the king the Lord's anointed, to take away his life, being more scrupulous of doing that, if this was Doeg, than of slaying the priests of the Lord; or he might be afraid of doing this, since should he survive this action, he would be called to an account by the Israelites, and be put to death for killing the king:

therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it - so was a suicide: the Jews endeavor to excuse this fact of Saul, because he knew he should die in battle from the words of Samuel; and being pressed sore by the archers, he saw it was impossible to escape out of their hands and therefore judged it better to kill himself than to fall by the hands of the uncircumcised; but these excuses will not do.

We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manner of their death; for in that, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee, expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired that the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and he became his own murderer. As it is the grand deceit of the devil, to persuade sinners, under great difficulties, to fly to this last act of desperation, it is well to fortify the mind against it, by a serious consideration of its sinfulness before God, and its miserable consequences in society.

1Sa 31:5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

He also fell on his sword - If the armor bearer was Doeg, who put an end to his life also then they died by one and the same sword--the very weapon with which they had massacred the Lord's servants at Nob. 1Sa_22:18

when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead - By his own hands, and not by the hands of the Amalekite, which the armour bearer would scarcely have suffered:

1Sa 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

All his men - This and similar expressions must not be taken too literally. We know that Abner, and Ish-bosheth, and manymore survived the day of Gilboa. Probably meaning those of his troops which were his life or body guards: as to the bulk of the army, it fled at the commencement of the battle, 1Sa_31:1.

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer - Only with this difference, his three sons died honorably in the field of battle, but he and his armorbearer destroyed themselves.

1Sa 31:7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

The men on the other side of the valley - This must mean to the north of the plain of Jezreel, and would comprise the tribe of Naphtali, and Zabulon, and probably Issachar. But the text of 1Ch_10:7 has “that were in the valley,” limiting the statement to the inhabitants of the plain of Jezreel.

The men on the other side of the valley – They appear to have been panic-struck, and therefore fled as far as they could out of the reach of the Philistines. As the Philistines possessed Beth-shan, situated near to Jordan , the people on the other side of that river, fearing for their safety, fled also.

The Philistines dwelt in them - One of the principal cities, Beth-shan, fell into their power at once 1Sa_31:10.

saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead - that is, had information and intelligence of those facts, for it is not to be supposed they saw them with their eyes:

1Sa 31:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

On the morrow - It is very likely that the battle and pursuit continued till the night, so that there was no time till the next day to strip and plunder the slain. On discovering the corpses of the slaughtered princes on the battlefield, the enemy reserved them for special indignities. They consecrated the armor of the king and his sons to the temple of Ashtaroth fastened their bodies on the temple of Shen, while they fixed the royal heads ignominiously in the temple of Dagon (1Ch_10:10); thus dividing the glory among their several deities.

1Sa 31:9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

And they cut off his head - It is possible that they cut off the heads of his three sons likewise; for although only his head is said to be cut off, and his body only to be fastened to the walls of Beth-shan, yet we find that the men of Jabesh-gilead found both his body and the bodies of his three sons, fastened to the walls, 1Sa_31:12.

And they cut off his head - And fastened it in the temple of Dagon , 1Ch_10:10; perhaps that which was at Ashdod , one of the principalities of the Philistines, 1Sa_5:1,

stripped off his armor - his clothes as well as his armour, and what he had about him; as for his crown on his head, and the bracelet on his arm, the Amalekite took them before the Philistines came, 2Sa_1:10,

to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people - that so they might be glad and rejoice, and give praise to their idols, to whom they ascribed the success they had.

1Sa 31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

In the house of Ashtaroth - The placing Saul’s armour as a trophy in the temple of Ashtaroth was a counterpart to the placing Goliath’s sword in the tabernacle 1Sa_21:9. In 1Ch_10:10 it is added that they “fastened Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon ,” probably either in Gaza Jdg_16:21, or in Ashdod 1Sa_5:1-3. This was, perhaps, in retaliation for the similar treatment of Goliath’s head 1Sa_17:54.

They put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth - As David had done in placing the sword of Goliath in the tabernacle. We have already seen that it was common for the conquerors to consecrate armor and spoils taken in war, to those who were the objects of religious worship.

They fastened his body to the wall - Probably by means of iron hooks; but it is said, 2Sa_21:12, that these bodies were fastened in the Street of Beth-shan. This may mean that the place where they were fastened to the wall was the main street or entrance into the city.

1Sa 31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

When the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard - This act of the men of Jabesh-gilead was an act of gratitude due to Saul, who, at the very commencement of his reign, rescued them from Nahash, king of the Ammonites, 1Sa_11:1, and by his timely succours saved them from the deepest degradation and the most oppressive tyranny. This heroic act, with the seven days’ fast, showed that they retained a due sense of their obligation to this unfortunate monarch.

heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul - not only that they had got the victory over him, and routed his army, but had abused his body, and hung it up by way of reproach and ignominy; which they could not bear to hear of, remembering with gratitude the kindness he had shown to them, in delivering them out of the hands of Nahash the Ammonite, 1Sa_11:1.

1Sa 31:12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

burnt them - Burning was not the usual mode of sepulture among the Hebrews. But in this case from a pious desire to disguise the mutilation of the headless corpses, and exempt them from any possible future insult, the men of Jabesh burned the bodies, yet so as to preserve the bones 1Sa_31:13; 2Sa_21:12.

And burnt them there - They could not have buried them about Beth-shan without being discovered; and as to embalming, that was most likely out of all question, as doubtless the bodies were now too putrid to bear it. They therefore burnt them, because there was no other way of disposing of them at that time so as to do them honor; and the bones and ashes they collected, and buried under a tree or in a grove at Jabesh.

All the valiant men arose - Of the city of Jabeshgilead , fired with indignation at the Philistines' ill usage of Saul and the bodies of his sons:

valiant men arose, and went all night - Considering that Beth-shan is an hour and a half's distance, and by a narrow upland passage, to the west of the Jordan (the whole being a journey from Jabesh-gilead of about ten miles), they must have made all haste to travel thither to carry off the headless bodies and return to their own side of the Jordan in the course of a single night.

1Sa 31:13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Under a tree - Rather, “Under the tamarisk,” a well-known tree at Jabesh which was standing when this narrative was written.

buried them under a tree at Jabesh - For though they burned the bodies, yet so as to preserve the bones; and these, together with the ashes of the parts burnt, they gathered up, and buried under a tree near this city; this tree is said to be an oak, 1Ch_10:12; so Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, was buried under an oak, Gen_35:8. The Jews generally interred their dead under some oak.

They fasted seven days - To testify their sincere regret for his unfortunate death, and the public calamity that had fallen upon the land. In imitation of the mourning for Jacob. They would give full honor to Saul though he was fallen.

fasted seven days - not that they ate and drank nothing all that time, but they fasted every day till evening, as the Jews used to do; so long it seems a man may live without eating, but not longer; this they did perhaps in memory of the seven days Nahash the Ammonite gave them for their relief, in which time Saul came and saved them, 1Sa_11:3. To testify their sorrow for the loss of Saul, and of the people of God;

This book began with the birth of Samuel, and ends with the death of Saul: The comparing these together will teach us to prefer the honor that comes from God, before all the honors of the world.

Thus ends the reign of Saul. A king was chosen in opposition to the will of the Most High; and the government of God in effect rejected, to make way for this king. Saul was at first a very humble young man, and conducted himself with great propriety; but his elevation made him proud, and he soon became tyrannical in his private conduct and in his political measures. His natural temper was not good; he was peevish, fretful, and often outrageous; and these bad dispositions, unchecked by proper application to the grace of God, became every day more headstrong and dangerous. Through their violence he seems at times to have been wholly carried away and deranged; and this derangement appears to have been occasionally greatly exacerbated by diabolical influences. This led him to take his friends for his foes; so that in his paroxysms he strove to imbrue his hands in their blood, and more than once attempted to assassinate his own son; and most causelessly and inhumanly ordered the innocent priests of the Lord at Nob to be murdered. This was the worst act in his whole life.

Saul was but ill qualified for a proper discharge of the regal functions. The reader will remember that he was chosen rather as a general of the armies than as civil governor. The administration of the affairs of the state was left chiefly to Samuel, and Saul led forth the armies to battle.

Saul was a weak man, and very capricious; this is amply proved by his unreasonable jealousy against David, and his continual suspicion that all were leagued against him. It is also evident, in his foolish adjuration relative to the matter of the honey (see 1Sa_14:24-30, 1Sa_14:38-44) in which, to save his rash and nonsensical oath, he would have sacrificed Jonathan his son!

The question, “Was Saul a good king?” has already in effect been answered. He was on the whole a good man, as far as we know, in private life; but he was a bad king; for he endeavored to reign independently of the Jewish constitution; he in effect assumed the sacerdotal office and functions, and thus even changed what was essential to that constitution. He not only offered sacrifices which belonged to the priests alone; but in the most positive manner went opposite to the orders of that God whose vicegerent he was.

His desperate circumstances imposed on the weakness of his mind; and he did in the instance of the witch of Endor an act which, in his jurisprudential capacity, he had disapproved by the edict which banished all witches, etc., from Israel . Yet in this act he only wished to avail himself of the counsel and advice of his friend Samuel.

1 Samuel 30

1Sa 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

On the third day - This was the third day after he had left the Philistine army at Aphek. This indicates that Aphek was three days’ march from Ziklag, say about 50 miles.

On the third day - Either from their departure from Ziklag, when they went out with Achish, or rather from the time of their leaving Achish, and the camp of the Philistines; so long they were upon their march homewards.

The Amalekites had invaded - While the strength of the Philistine forces was poured out of their country into the plain of Esdraelon, the Amalekite marauders seized the opportunity of the defenseless state of Philistia to invade the southern territory. Of course, David's town suffered from the ravages of these nomad plunderers, in revenge for his recent raid upon their territory.

1Sa 30:2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

they slew not any, either great or small - that is, of the women, whether married or unmarried, old, or maidens, or children; which was very much, since David destroyed all that came within his reach, men and women, when he invaded them, 1Sa_27:9; but perhaps this was owing to their covetousness, designing to make an advantage of them by selling them for slaves; no doubt they were restrained by the providence of God:

they slew not any, either great or small--Their apparent clemency did not arise from humane considerations. It is traceable to the ancient war usages of the East, where the men of war, on the capture of a city, were unsparingly put to death, but there were no warriors in Ziklag at the time. The women and boys were reserved for slaves, and the old people were spared out of respect to age.

1Sa 30:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

David and his men came to the city - Or to the place where it had stood, and where it now lay in ruins:

it was burned with fire--The language implies that the smoke of the conflagration was still visible, and the sacking very recent.

1Sa 30:4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

1Sa 30:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

David's two wives were taken captives - Which is observed as one cause of his particular distress, and another follows in 1Sa_30:6,

1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

David encouraged himself in the Lord - He found he could place very little confidence in his men; and, as he was conscious that this evil had not happened either through his neglect or folly, he saw he might the more confidently expect succor from his Maker. This should be an example for us.

David encouraged himself in the Lord his God - took all patiently, and exercised faith on his God; he encouraged himself in the power and providence of God; in the promises of God, and his faithfulness in keeping them; in a view of his covenant relation to God; in remembrance of the grace, mercy, and goodness of God, and his former experiences of it; hoping and believing that God would appear for him in some way or another, and work salvation for him. The Targum is,"he strengthened himself in the Word of the Lord his God;''in Christ the Word of God, and in the power of his might, and in the grace that is in him.

The people spake of stoning him - as the Israelites did of Moses and Aaron, Num_14:10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. And the glory of Jehovah appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the sons of Israel; the reason of this was, because, as they judged, it was owing to David that they went along with Achish, and left the city defenseless, leaving their wives and children unguarded, and because he had provoked the Amalekites by his inroad upon them, who took this opportunity of avenging themselves.

1Sa 30:7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

David said to Abiathar the priest - Abiathar had continued to abide with David, ever since he joined him at Keilah 1Sa_23:6. Abiathar it seems was with David when he went with Achish, and returned with him; for had he been left at Ziklag, he and his ephod, in all probability, had been carried off by the Amalekites.

bring me hither the ephod - not to put it on himself, but that the high priest might put it on, and inquire by it before him of the Lord: that inquiry might be made before him of the Lord by Urim and Thummim.

1Sa 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

for thou shall surely overtake them – David asked 2 questions but only the second was answered, in a way that answered both questions. Before, God answered more slowly and gradually, 1Sa_23:11-12, but now he answers speedily, and fully at once, because the business required haste.

1Sa 30:9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

The brook Besor - The sense of this and the following verse is, that when they came to the brook Besor, there were found two hundred out of his six hundred men so spent with fatigue that they could proceed no farther. The baggage or stuff was left there, 1Sa_30:24, and they were appointed to guard it.

where those that were left behind stayed - all the six hundred came to this brook, but two hundred of them were left here, 1Sa_30:10 shows, and stayed here till the rest returned; for this is not to be understood of any that were left behind at Ziklag, for all came from thence to this brook.

1Sa 30:10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

David pursued, he and four hundred men - Not discouraged with being obliged to leave a third part of his little army behind; though it was doubtless a trial of his faith.

1Sa 30:11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;

And they found an Egyptian in the field - As they passed along, lying there, having been sick, and was half starved, almost dead: This Egyptian seems to have recently fallen into the hands of an Amalekite, and his master having belonged to the marauding party that had made the attack on Ziklag, he could give useful information as to the course taken by them on their return.

1Sa 30:12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

Three days and three nights - Indicating that at least so long a time had elapsed since the sack of Ziklag.

Three days and nights - One whole day and part of two others, as appears from the next verse, where he saith, three days ago I fell sick, but in the Hebrew it is, this is the third day since I fell sick.

his spirit came again to him - he seemed to be quite dispirited, almost lifeless, but upon eating some food he was refreshed, and his spirits revived, and he was capable of conversing:

1Sa 30:13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

My master left me - This was very inhuman: though they had booty enough, camels 1Sa_30:17, and no doubt asses sufficient to carry the invalids, yet they left this poor man to perish; and God visited it upon them, as he made this very person the means of their destruction, by the information which he was enabled to give to David and his men.

1Sa 30:14 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

The Cherethites - In 2Sa_15:18 we find that the Cherethites formed a part of David’s guards. The Philistines so called, or at least one nation of them, such that dwelt to the south of the land, 1Sa_30:16.

upon the coast which belongeth to Judah - the south of Judah , where David pretended he had been, and had spoiled, and which was now actually done by the Amalekites, 1Sa_27:10,

upon the south of Caleb - that part of the tribe of Judah which belonged to Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and his posterity, and which was the southern part of it, Jos_15:19,

1Sa 30:15 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

Swear unto me – it is implied that David swore to him. Whether there was still among these idolatrous tribes a lingering belief in one God, or this Egyptian wished to bind David by the God whom the Hebrews worshipped, the solemn sanction of an oath was mutually recognized.

swear unto me by God - it is highly probable this man had no notion of Jehovah, and his Word, or of the true God; only that there was a God, and that an oath taken by him was solemn, sacred, and inviolable, and might be trusted to and depended on:

that thou wilt neither kill me - for he found now he was in the hands of those whose city he had been concerned in plundering and burning, and so might fear his life was in danger:

1Sa 30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

they were spread abroad upon all the earth - they were not in any regular order, and much less in any military form, but lay about in the fields, scattered here and there, were in detached parties:

they were spread abroad upon all the earth - here they were in the greatest security; knowing: that the armies of the Philistines were gone into the land of Israel, and were about to engage in battle with the Israelites, and David they supposed was with the Philistines, so that they had nothing to fear from any quarter;

Upon all the earth - Secure and careless, because they were now come almost to the borders of their own country, and the Philistines and Israelites both were otherwise engaged, and David, as they believed, with them. So they had no visible cause of danger; and yet then they were nearest to destruction.

1Sa 30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

There escaped not a man of them - It is well known to every careful reader of the Bible, that the Amalekites were a proscribed people, even by God himself, and that in extirpating them it has been supposed David fulfilled the express will of God. But all this depends on whether he had an express commission to do so, received from God himself, as Saul had.

David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day - As there are two twilights, the twilight of the morning, and the twilight of the evening; this is differently understood some take it for the twilight of the morning, and that it was night when David came to them, and let them alone till they were drunk and asleep, and then early in the morning fell upon them, and smote them until the evening; others take it to be the twilight of the evening, and that he fell upon them that night, and continued the slaughter of them to the evening of the next day, with which agrees the Targum; some take the next day, or the morrow, to be that which followed after the two evenings; so that this slaughter was carried on to the third day:

David smote them - David surprised them in the midst of their security, and smote them from the evening twilight till the evening of the next day, so that no one escaped, with the exception of four hundred young men, who fled upon camels. Nesheph signifies the evening twilight here, not the dawn.

1Sa 30:18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

1Sa 30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

1Sa 30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

David took all the flocks - He and his men not only recovered all their own property, but they recovered all the spoil which these Amalekites had taken from the south of Judah , the Cherethites, and the south of Caleb. When this was separated from the rest, it was given to David, and called David’s spoil.

1Sa 30:21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

Saluted them - He spoke kindly to them, and did not blame them because they went no further with them.

1Sa 30:22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

Men of Belial - This is a common expression to denote the sour, the rugged, the severe, the idle, and the profane.

that they may lead them away, and depart – but where to, Ziklag was burnt, the land of Israel they would not return unto, where they must fall a sacrifice to Saul; these men cared not where they went, as long as they were rid of them, that they might not have any share with them in the spoil.

1Sa 30:23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

That which the Lord hath given us - He very properly attributes this victory to God; the numbers of the Amalekites being so much greater than his own. Indeed, as many fled away on camels as were in the whole host of David.

my brethren - Though he saw through their wickedness, and disapproved of the bad sentiments they had embraced, yet he deals gently with them, calling them brethren, being of the same nation and religion, and his fellow soldiers; yet at the same time keeps up and maintains his dignity and authority as a general, and declares it should not be as they willed, and gives his reasons for it, that it was not fit they should do as they pleased:

1Sa 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

For who will hearken unto you in this matter - No wise and just man will take on your side of the question, and join with you in excluding your brethren from a share in the spoil:

as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff - as these two hundred men did; they were placed to abide by and watch the carriages, the bag and baggage the rest had left there, that they might be the lighter, and make their pursuit more swiftly: besides, they guarded the pass here, and were also exposed to danger; for if the four hundred had been cut off, and the enemy had returned, they must all have perished; and therefore as they had their post assigned them, and were liable to danger, it was but just and reasonable they should have the share in the spoil; especially since it was not want of will in them they did not go with them, but weakness of body:

1Sa 30:25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

He made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel - Nothing could be more just and proper than this law: he who stays at home to defend house and property, has an equal right to the booty taken by those who go out to the war. There was a practice of this kind among the Israelites long before this time; Num_31:27 And divide the prey into two parts: between those skilled in the battle, who went out to war, and between all the congregation. Jos_22:8 And he spoke to them, saying, You are returning to your tents with your great treasures, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with bronze, and with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.

Unto this day - This is another indication that this book was composed long after the facts it commemorates.

1Sa 30:26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

Unto the elders of Judah - of that part of it which belonged to himself as a general: These were the persons among whom he sojourned during his exile, and who had given him shelter and protection. Gratitude required these presents.

And when David came to Ziklag - Perhaps with an intention to rebuild it, and make it still the place of his residence; tents might be pitched until the city was rebuilt, and it appears that he continued there some time:

Unto the elders of Judah - some in those parts he sent the spoil to might have been sufferers by the Amalekites, so that it was but a point of justice to restore to them what had been taken from them; for they had invaded the south of Judea, and took spoils from thence, 1Sa_30:14; it was to his friends in those parts he sent, not to the inhabitants of Ziph and Keilah, which were places in the tribe of Judah; but these having attempted to betray him, were not entitled to his favors, though they were not the objects of his vengeance:

Elders of Judah - Partly in gratitude for their former favours to him: and partly, in policy, to engage their affections to him. The effect of this well-timed liberality was to bring a large accession of numbers to his camp (1Ch_12:22). The enumeration of these places shows what a numerous and influential party of adherents to his cause he could count within his own tribe [1Sa_30:27-31]. Sending these gifts could not fail to make the elders of these cities well disposed towards him, and so to facilitate his recognition as king after the death of Saul, which occurred immediately afterwards.

1Sa 30:27 To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,

Bethel – not the famous city of this name but an unknown one in the portion of Judah .

South Ramoth - Ramoth of the South country. So called to distinguish it from Ramoth Gilead, beyond Jordan . This Ramoth belonged to the tribe of Simeon, which lay within the lot of Judah, Jos_19:8 and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramah of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families.

Jattir - “In the mountains” of Judah, and one of the priests’ cities.

1Sa 30:28 And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,

Aroer - Not Aroer in the tribe of Gad beyond Jordan , where David is never said to be, but some city of this name in the tribe of Judah ;

Siphmoth - which very probably was in the tribe of Judah , though nowhere else mentioned:

Eshtemoa - a Levitical city given to the Levites by the children of Judah, Jos_21:14. Jos_15:50

1Sa 30:29 And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,

Rachal - Another city of the tribe of Judah , it is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible.

the cities of the Kenites - who dwelt in the wilderness of Judah . Jdg_1:16 And the sons of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the sons of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad. And they went and lived among the people.

the cities of the Jerahmeelites - The descendants of Jerahmeel son of Hezron (1Ch_2:9, 1Ch_2:25-27), who inhabited a district in the south of Judah . 1Sa_27:10

1Sa 30:30 And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,

Chor-ashan - Perhaps the same as Ashan Jos_15:42, in the Shephelah of Judah, inhabited by Simeonites, and one of the priests’ cities 1Ch_4:32; 1Ch_6:59.

Hormah – there are many places called Hormah. Which one this is cannot be determined.

Athach - nowhere else mentioned;

1Sa 30:31 And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

To them which were in Hebron - This was a place strongly attached to David, and David to it, and the place where he was proclaimed king, and where he reigned more than seven years previously to the death of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, who was, for that time, his competitor in the kingdom.

To them which were in Hebron - A noted city in the tribe of Judah, in the mountainous part of it, and a city of refuge, and where David was afterwards anointed, first king over Judah, and then over Israel, 2Sa_2:4,

to all the places where David and his men were wont to haunt - where they had their walks, and went to and fro when persecuted by Saul; all such places, and the inhabitants of them, David had a grateful remembrance of, who sheltered and relieved him in the times of his distress.

We are not to suppose that the transactions mentioned here and in the preceding chapter took place after Saul’s interview with the woman of En-dor, they were considerably antecedent to this, but how long we do not know. What is recorded in the following chapter must have taken place the next day after Saul left En-dor.

1 Samuel 29

1Sa 29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

To Aphek - This was a place in the valley of Jezreel , between Mounts Tabor and Gilboa. Not the city in the tribe of Judah of that name, Jos_15:53; where the Philistines had a camp in the time of Samuel, 1Sa_4:1; but rather that in the tribe of Asher, Jos_19:30, although some scholars say in the tribe of Issachar.

Pitched by a fountain - To be near a fountain, or copious spring of water, was a point of great importance to an army in countries such as these, where water was so very scarce.

1Sa 29:2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

By hundreds, and by thousands - They were probably divided by fifties, hundreds, and thousands; each having its proper officer or captain, like those of the Israelites 1Sa_8:12 And he will appoint commanders over thousands, and commanders over fifties, and some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and weapons for his chariots. David and his men formed a body-guard to Achish 1Sa_28:2.

the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds - Not that there were so many lords, for there were but five of them; but these marched, some at the head of hundreds with them, and others at the head of thousands:

David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish - who being king brought up the rear, and David, whom he had appointed captain of his bodyguards, attended him with his men, which he could not refuse.

1Sa 29:3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

He fell unto me - The regular word for deserting and going over to the other side.

Then said the princes of the Philistines - To Achish not those of the court of Achish, who were his subjects, but the confederate princes with him in this war, the lords of the other principalities, as appears by the freedom they took with him, 1Sa_29:4,

these days, or these years - had been with him many days, and he might say years, as he had been with him one whole year, and part of another, see 1Sa_27:7; and he might have known him longer, if he was the same Achish David first fled to;

I have found no fault in him - the affair of David's going against the Geshurites, etc. not being yet known by him, or, if it was, he approved of it.

1Sa 29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

The princes of the Philistines were wroth - With Achish, for giving such a character of David, and taking his part, in order to detain him, if possible:

he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him - to Ziklag, the place that Achish had given him for his residence, 1Sa_27:6; they did not desire to have him sent to his own country, and to Saul, since should a reconciliation be made between them, he would be of great service to Saul against them:

lest in the battle he be an adversary to us - and fall upon them behind, being in the rear, while they were engaging in the front with Israel :

Make this fellow - it was ordered by a gracious Providence that they refused to let David go with them to this battle, in which he must have been either an enemy to his country, or false to his friends and to his trust. Had he fought for the Philistines, he would have fought against God and his country; and had he in the battle gone over to the Israelites, he would have deceived and become a traitor to the hospitable Achish. God therefore delivered him from such disgrace; and by the same kind Providence he was sent back to rescue his wives, and the wives and children of his people, from captivity.

Go down to the battle - this expression is used as in 1Sa_26:10; 1Sa_30:24, because battles were generally fought in the plains, into which the Hebrews were obliged to come down from their mountainous land.

1Sa 29:5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

Is not this David - he is an old sworn enemy of theirs; and the more valiant and victorious he has been, the less is he to be trusted. To justify their suspicion, the princes reminded him of their song with which the women in Israel had celebrated David's victory over Goliath (1Sa_18:7).

1Sa 29:6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.

As the Lord liveth - an oath by the true God, of whom Achish might have some knowledge, as he also had of angels, from his conversation with David; The swearing by Yahweh seems strange in the mouth of a Philistine. But probably not the very words, but only the sense of this speech is preserved.

Thou hast been upright - So he thought, for as yet he had not heard of the above transaction; David having given him to understand that he had been fighting against Israel .

1Sa 29:7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.

1Sa 29:8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

David said - he did intend to persuade Achish that he would fight against Israel ; and show his fidelity to the king of Gath . It was in the order of God’s gracious providence that the Philistine lords refused to let David go with them to this battle. Had he gone, he had his choice of two sins - First, If he had fought for the Philistines, he would have fought against God and his country. Secondly If he had in the battle gone over to the Israelites, he would have deceived and become a traitor to the hospitable Achish. God, therefore, so ordered it in his mercy that he was not permitted to go to a battle in which he was sure to be disgraced, whatever side he took, or with what success soever he might be crowned.

David said - This was deep dissimulation and flattery, no way to be justified. David must say something to put on an appearance of concern for being dismissed, when he was heartily glad of it: Some scholars think David wanted to fight for the Philistines, others think he did not.

fight against the enemies of my lord the king - These last words are also ambiguous, since the king whom David calls his lord might be understood as meaning either Achish or Saul.

1Sa 29:9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

As an angel of God - There is some reason to think that Achish had actually embraced or was favorably disposed towards the Jewish religion. He speaks here of the angels of God, as a Jew might be expected to speak; and in 1Sa_29:6 he appeals to, and swears by Jehovah; which, perhaps, no Philistine ever did. It is possible that he might have learned many important truths from David, during the time he sojourned with him.

thou art good in my sight as an angel of God - for his great wisdom, and graceful behaviour, and inoffensive carriage:

1Sa 29:10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

with thy master's servants - Meaning his six hundred men, who were considered as the servants and subjects of Saul, though with David:

1Sa 29:11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

to return into the land of the Philistines - for now they were in the land of Israel , at Aphek, near Jezreel, from whence they went back to Ziklag, which was within the principality of Gath ;

David and his men - By the dismission of David from the army of the Philistines, he was not only delivered from a sad plight he was in, either of acting an ungrateful part to Achish, or an unnatural one to Israel; but also, by the pressing charge of Achish to get away as early as possible in the morning, he came to rescue the prey the Amalekites had taken at Ziklag his city, as in the following chapter; and the providence of God in this affair is further observable, as by some represented, since if David had stayed in the camp of the Philistines, it would not have been so easy for him, on the death of Saul, to have got from them, and succeed in the kingdom, as he could and did from Ziklag.

Jezreel - Jezreel, or Esdrelon, was a city of Issachar , afterwards celebrated as the residence of the kings of Israel , delightfully situated in the extensive and fertile plain of the same name,

1 Samuel 28

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.