| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| |
|
| 1 And it came to pass, in those days, when the Philistines gathered together their hosts for war, to fight with Israel, that Achish said unto David, Thou must, know, that, with me, shalt thou go forth in the host, thou and thy men. |
|
| 2 And David said unto Achish, Therefore, now, shalt thou know what thy servant can do. And Achish said unto David, Therefore, keeper of my head, will I appoint thee, all the days. |
|
| 3 Now, Samuel, was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city,–Saul, moreover had put away them who had familiar spirits and them who were oracles, out of the land. |
|
| 4 So then the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came in, and encamped in Shunem,–and Saul gathered together all Israel, and they encamped in Gilboa. |
|
| 5 And, when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled exceedingly. |
|
| 6 Then Saul enquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh answered him not,–neither by Dreams, nor by the Lights, nor by prophets. |
Answered him not – He was out of fellowship with God. PD42/52
It is not for a moment supposable that God and Samuel, having refused to communicate with the king, would change and permit a witch, condemned by divine Law, to overrule the matter. PD42/52; R2172:3,4
Urim – The Urim and Thummim answers of the Lord to the inquiries of the people had ceased. R5615:5
|
| |
|
| 7 Then said Saul unto his servants–Seek me out a woman that owneth a familiar spirit, that I may even go unto her, and enquire of her. And his servants said unto him, Lo! there is a woman that owneth a familiar spirit in En-dor. |
A familiar spirit – Familiar with the spirits who were disobedient in the days of Noah. PD42/52
These fallen angels seek to make void the Word of God despite being restrained in "chains of darkness." (Jude 6) R4976:2
|
| 8 Saul therefore disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and departed–he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night,–and he said–Divine for me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me–whomsoever I shall name unto thee. |
Disguised himself – Endeavored in vain to do so as "from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people." (1 Sam. 9:2) R2172:2
Divine unto me – Make known. R755:4*
|
| 9 And the woman said unto him–Lo! thou, knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off them who have familiar spirits and him who is an oracle, out of the land,–wherefore, then, art thou striking at my life, to put me to death? |
|
| 10 So then Saul sware unto her by Yahweh, saying,–By the life of Yahweh, there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing. |
|
| 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me. |
Bring me up Samuel – Awaken Samuel. PD42/52
|
| 12 And, when the woman saw Samuel, she made outcry with a loud voice,–and the woman spake unto Saul, saying–Wherefore hast thou deceived me, thou thyself being Saul?
|
Woman saw Samuel – The evil spirits caused to pass before the medium's mental vision the familiar likeness of Samuel. R2172:2
|
| 13 And the king said unto her–Be not afraid, but what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, A god, saw I, coming up out of the earth. |
|
| 14 And he said to her–What was his form? And she said–An old man, coming up, he being wrapped about with a robe. Then Saul knew, that it was, Samuel, so he inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down. |
And she said – Describing a mental or "astral" picture. HG726:2
Covered with a mantle – Saul did not enquire why Samuel wore the same old mantle as a spirit that he had worn as an earthly being. HG726:3
Saul perceived – When she described the mental (or astral) picture, Saul recognized it as Samuel. R2172:2, R4234:2
Saul saw nothing; the witch said she saw Samuel. PD42/52
And he stooped – He did not question how it could be that Samuel looked as old and stooped as before and wore a mantle if he was now a spirit being and far better off. R2172:2
|
| |
|
| 15 And Samuel said unto Saul, Wherefore hast thou disquieted me, by bringing me up? And Saul said–I am in sore distress, for, the Philistines, are making war against me, and, God, hath turned away from me, and answereth me no more–either by means of the prophets, or by dreams, therefore have I even called for thee, to let me know, what I am to do. |
And Samuel said – The manner, style and sentiments of the dead prophet were assumed, the better to deceive. R2172:3
These "lying spirits" always seek to counterfeit the face, manner and disposition of the dead. R2172:3
Disquieted me – Corresponding to the Jewish belief that when a person had died he became unconscious in sheol, the grave waiting for a resurrection. R2172:3; HG726:4
To bring me up – Up from the grave, not down from heaven. R2172:3; HG726:4
Answereth me no more – Saul was easily deceived into thinking that while Samuel had refused to commune with him while alive, he had now been forced to commune with him by the powers of the witch. R2172:3
Neither by prophets – Hence Samuel would have had no right to give him any information which the Lord was unwilling to give him. HG726:5
I have called thee – His boldness in still attempting to ascertain the future is remarkable. He should have feared God's further displeasure in doing that which was forbidden. R4234:3
|
| 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore, then, shouldst thou ask me,–when, Yahweh, hath turned away from thee, and hath come to be with thy neighbour? |
LORD is departed – See comments on 1Sam. 28:6.
Become thine enemy – The familiar spirit, impersonating Samuel, foretold nothing which Saul himself did not anticipate. R2172:4
|
| 17 Therefore hath Yahweh done for him, as he spake by me,–yea Yahweh hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to a neighbour of thine–to David. |
LORD hath rent – Saul anticipated what he heard. He knew that the kingdom should be taken from him and his family. HG726:6
|
| 18 As thou didst not hearken unto the voice of Yahweh, neither didst execute the glow of his anger upon Amalek, therefore, this thing, hath Yahweh done unto thee this day; |
|
| 19 that Yahweh may deliver, Israel also, with thee, into the hand of the Philistines, and, tomorrow, thou and thy sons with thee are about to fall,–the host of Israel also, will Yahweh deliver, into the hand of the Philistines. |
And to morrow – Scholars say that the battle and the death of Saul occurred several days later.
Thou and thy sons – The familiar spirit erred--two of Saul's sons escaped and lived for years. R2172:5; HG727:1
Be with me – Would wicked Saul be with righteous Samuel? R754:6*
From the standpoint of the general faith then, that all who die go to sheol, the grave. R2172:6
Host of Israel – The demons could see that one day's battle would probably settle the question; and since Saul was already panicstricken the death of the king and his household would be the only logical result. R2172:5, R4234:2
Into the hand – Not that Satan is a prophet, but he is a student and believer of God's Word. R265:5
|
| |
|
| 20 Then Saul hastened, and fell prostrate–the whole length of him–to the earth, and was sore afraid, at the words of Samuel, and indeed, no, strength, was left in him, for he had not eaten food all the day and all the night. |
|
| 21 And the woman came unto Saul, and, when she saw that he was greatly terrified, she said unto him–Lo! thy handmaid hearkened unto thy voice, and I put my life into my hand, and heard thy words which thou didst speak unto me. |
|
| 22 Now, therefore, I pray thee, hearken, thou also, unto the voice of thy handmaid, and let me set before thee a morsel of food, and eat thou,–that there may be in thee strength, when thou goest on thy journey. |
|
| 23 But he refused, and said–I will not eat. But, when his servants, and the woman also, strongly urged him, then hearkened he unto their voice,–and rose up from the earth, and sat on the bed. |
|
| 24 Now, the woman, had a calf fattening, in the shed. So she hastened, and sacrificed it,–and took meal, and kneaded, and baked thereof, unleavened cakes; |
|
| 25 and brought near before Saul and before his servants, and they did eat. Then rose they up and departed, the same night. |
|