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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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.
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| 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. |
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| 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. |
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| 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, 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
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| 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. |
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
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| 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. |
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*
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| 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? |
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| 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. |
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| 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. |
Bring me up Samuel – Awaken Samuel. PD42/52
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| 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. |
Woman saw Samuel – The evil spirits caused to pass before the medium's mental vision the familiar likeness of Samuel. R2172:2
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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
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| 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. |
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
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| 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? |
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
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| 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: |
LORD hath rent – Saul anticipated what he heard. He knew that the kingdom should be taken from him and his family. HG726:6
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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: |
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| 25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night. |
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