Saul and the Medium at Endor

[DD2007]

1 Samuel 28: 7-15

[7] Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at Endor.”
[8]
So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.”

[9] The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?”
[10] But Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
[11] Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
[12] When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”
[13] The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
[14] He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
[15]
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”

So, at Endor King Saul commisions a witch to bring the spirit of Samuel from where it is to give him advice about his problems with the Philistines.

1. What does this tell us about the spirit?
2. Where was the spirit when it was summoned?
3. Was it really Samuel?
4. Is the situation that the spirit of Samuel was in at that time obsolete as now we live in a time after the coming of Christ?
5. Is this verse proof that there is life after death?
6. What does it mean that the witch referred to Samuel’s spirit as a “god” with a little g?
7. How did the witch know where Samuel was and how to reach him?

 

[thistle]

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 7. Spirit. Hebrew, “an ob,” or vessel distended, as such impostors seemed to swell at the presence of the spirit. Septuagint, “a belly talker.” They endeavour to speak from that part. We read of some who, without magic, have possessed the art in great perfection, so as to deceive the company, and make them think that some one was calling them from a great distance; as was the case with one Farming in England, 1645. (Dickenson, c. 9.) — Brodeus mentions that the valet of Francis I could thus counterfeit the speech of people deceased, and by these means prevailed upon a rich woman to marry him, and a banker of Lyons to give him a large sum of money. James Rodoginus, a possessed person in Italy, 1513, could make articulate sounds from the hollow of his belly, when his lips and nostrils were closed up. The oracles of idols were generally given in a low tone, as if they proceeded from the earth. Submissi petimus terram & vox fertur ad aures. (Virgil) — Those of Apollo were the most famous, and hence a divining spirit is called a Python. Saul must have been stupidly blind, thus to depend on what he had formerly banished with such care. (Calmet) — He flattered himself that some would still be left, especially among the women, who are most addicted to superstition, as well as to religion. (Menochius) — Endor was distant from Gelboe about four hours’ walk. (Adrichomius) — But Saul made a long circuit to avoid the enemy. (Salien, v. 20.)

Ver. 8. Clothes, that he might not fill the woman or his army with dismay. (Calmet)

Ver. 10. Thing. He adds this crime of swearing unjustly, to all the rest. (Saline[Salien?])

Ver. 11. Samuel. Here we behold the antiquity of necromancy, which is a proof that people believed the soul’s immortality; animas responsa daturas. (Horace, i. sat. 8.) (Calmet) — Protestants sometimes deny (Haydock) that souls appear again, contrary to this history and Matthew xvii. (St. Augustine) (Worthington)

Ver. 12. Woman. The Rabbins pretend that she was Abner’s mother, (Calmet) which is extremely improbable, as he was of the tribe of Benjamin, and a man of such renown. (Salien) — Theodoret follows their opinion, in supposing that the woman was startled, because Samuel appeared in a standing posture, and not with his feet upwards, or lying down on his back, as in a coffin, which they say (Calmet) is the usual manner of spirits appearing to people of her character. (Bellarmine, Purgat. ii. 6.) — She cried out, because he appeared before she had begun her incantations, and was arrayed like a priest, according to Josephus, (Haydock) in great majesty, or she pretended to see him, the better to impose upon the king; for some think that all was a delusion. (Calmet) — Saul. This she learnt either from Samuel, (Josephus) or from her familiar spirit. (Menochius)

Ver. 13. Gods, or one venerable and divine personage. (Worthington) — Elohim, is applied to Samuel for greater honour. It is a title given to the true God, to idols, and people in dignity. (Calmet)

Ver. 14. Understood that it was Samuel. It is the more common opinion of the holy fathers, and interpreters, that the soul of Samuel appeared indeed; and not, as some have imagined, an evil spirit in his shape. Not that the power of her magic could bring him thither, but that God was pleased for the punishment of Saul, that Samuel himself should denounce unto him the evils that were falling upon him. See Ecclesiasticus xlvi. 23. (Challoner) — The passage is decisive; (Tirinus) he slept and he made know to the king, and shewed him the end of his life, and he lifted up his voice from the earth, in prophecy, &c. Those who have called in question the reality of Samuel’s apparition, seem not to have remembered this passage. (Haydock) — Yet his soul was not united to his body, (Salien) nor was he adduced by the power of the devil, but (Du Hamel) by a just judgment of God, to denounce destruction to the wicked king. (St. Augustine, &c.) (Tirinus) — The woman, beholding Samuel, fled out of the place, to Saul’s companions, and left him alone with the king, ver. 21. — Adored Samuel with an inferior honour, as a friend of God, exalted in glory. (Salien) — That Samuel really appeared, is the more common opinion of the fathers. (St. Augustine, Cura. xv.) (Worthington)

Ver. 15. Up. To inform a person of something very terrible, is distressing; and though the saints deceased cannot partake in the afflictions of mortals, yet we read that “the angels of peace will weep, but they will approve of the just sentence of the judge” against the reprobate. (Haydock) — The Scripture language conforms itself to the opinions of the people, who thought that such avocations disturbed the soul’s repose. Hence the fathers at [the Synod of] Elvira (Canon xxxi.) forbid “the lighting of wax candles in church-yards during the day, for the spirits of the saints are not to be disquieted.” Isaias (xiv. 9,) represents hell all in commotion, at the approach of the king of Babylon. These expressions are figurative. (Calmet) — God does not encourage magical arts, on this occasion, but rather prevents their operation, as he did, when Balaam would have used some superstitious practices, Numbers xxiv. (Du Hamel)

 

[patrick457]

So, at Endor King Saul commisions a witch to bring the spirit of Samuel from where it is to give him advice about his problems with the Philistines.

1. What does this tell us about the spirit?
2. Where was the spirit when it was summoned?
3. Was it really Samuel?
4. Is the situation that the spirit of Samuel was in at that time obsolete as now we live in a time after the coming of Christ?
5. Is this verse proof that there is life after death?
6. What does it mean that the witch referred to Samuel’s spirit as a “god” with a little g?
7. How did the witch know where Samuel was and how to reach him?

6.) The word used here in Hebrew is “elohim”, which is usually used as a name of God, but could also be translated as ‘gods’ (yet the context would show a singular) and mean other things, such as human rulers or judges such as in Ps.82:6: “I said, you are gods elohim]; you are all sons of the Most High,” and in Exodus 21:5-6, where it is said, “If, however, the slave declares, ‘I am devoted to my master and my wife and children; I will not go free,’ his master shall bring him to elohim (usually translated as ‘God’ but could also mean ‘the gods’; i.e. judges who will decide the slave’s case) and there, at the door or doorpost, he shall pierce his ear with an awl, thus keeping him as his slave forever”.

This passage would seem to indicate that elohim was also used to refer to souls of the dead and mean something like ‘supernatural, unearthly god-like beings’ in ancient Israel.

7.) Personally, I think it was not the witch who ‘reached out’ to Samuel; God Himself may have permitted Samuel to show up to tell Saul’s death.

 

[Angelos]

1 Samuel 28: 7-15

1. What does this tell us about the spirit?
2. Where was the spirit when it was summoned?
3. Was it really Samuel?
4. Is the situation that the spirit of Samuel was in at that time obsolete as now we live in a time after the coming of Christ?
5. Is this verse proof that there is life after death?
6. What does it mean that the witch referred to Samuel’s spirit as a “god” with a little g?
7. How did the witch know where Samuel was and how to reach him?

1. Human soul is immortal.
2. The spirit was in Hades (land of the dead).
3. It was most likely Samuel because the spirit knew Saul and His previous mistakes.
4. It was waiting for Christ in Hades.
5. Most probably, yes.
6. Because the witch identified the spirit from her own pagan perspective.
7. She was a medium. Thus, God used her as a medium to rebuke Saul. This narrative highlights the extreme end of Saul’s desperation. This was the third and last time he was rebuked by Samuel for his disobedience. The first two occurred prior to Samuel’s death whereas this one happened by the help of a witch since Samuel was no more in the land of the living.

 

[Fox]

I didn’t know that Saul hung out with the Ewoks. Lucky guy!

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .
7. How did the witch know where Samuel was and how to reach him?

I think the witch routinely dealt with demons. In this case God cut in on her channel and supplied Samuel. That is why she freaked out.

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”