It was the providential help of God himself, and that only, which got David out of the dilemma that confronted him. Jesus explained in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) that before the finished work of Jesus on the cross, the believing dead went to a place of comfort and blessing known as. Saul is like a man going to a palm reader to hear the will of God. Had the prophet Samuel actually appeared, much to her surprise, thus causing her to scream out in terror? b. Others of the Ante-Nicene Fathers did not hesitate to label this alleged appearance of Samuel as a cleverly contrived fraud. For you are Saul. b. View the entire commentary, When we go from the plain path of duty, every thing draws us further aside, and increases our perplexity and temptation... En-dor--"the fountain of the circle" (that figure being constantly affected by magicians) 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. : Saul explained his problem to Samuel. Now therefore, you also hearken to your handmaid; let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." i. What I should do: “Saul is asking for guidance when his course of action is obvious: he has to fight the Philistines. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. . "Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament". Anxious inquiries, however, led to the discovery of a woman living very secluded in the neighborhood, who had the credit of possessing the forbidden powers. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. He did this because he wanted to know what God might say to him. It doesn’t matter what kind of impressive encounter one has with a spiritual being; even if, preach any other gospel to you… let him be accursed, Because you did not… execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day, : Samuel called Saul’s mind back to what happened in 1 Samuel 15. And he said, “Please conduct a seance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”, Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her, in the land of Israel because Saul had previously put them out of the land. This indicates both the truth of the Trinity and God’s greatness, which is indicated in Hebrew by the plural form. While Samuel was living, we never read of Saul's going to advise with him in any difficulties; it had been well for him if he had. The Hebrew word used for, in 1 Samuel 28:14. Moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.'". The woman said, I saw gods ascending — The original word here used is elohim; and is with equal propriety rendered God, a god, or gods; when spoken of Jehovah it is translated God in the Scriptures; but when meant of the false gods of the heathen, of angels or of magistrates, which it sometimes is, it is generally rendered in the plural number. It seemed impossible that he should get out of this difficulty with a clear conscience; but his evasive answer, intended to gain time, was not consistent with the character of an Israelite indeed. This indicates both the truth of the Trinity and God’s greatness, which is indicated in Hebrew by the plural form. Samuel would rather be back where he was. 2. He hoped God would speak to him through the, , but God was silent. What was the reason for that cry with a loud voice? Some believe that this was a hallucination of the medium. He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." 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 ( Leviticus 19:31 , Leviticus 20:6 Leviticus 20:27 , Deuteronomy 18:11 ), he had set himself formerly to exterminate from his kingdom. b. Saul swore to her by the LORD: Saul’s oath in the name of the LORD reminds us that spiritual jargon means nothing. "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." "This maneuver threatened to cut off Saul from the support of the northern tribes"[6], "The Philistines at Shunem ...Israel at Gilboa" (1 Samuel 28:4). v. Clarke makes an additional valuable point: “I believe that the woman of En-dor had no power over Samuel; and that no incantation can avail over any departed saint of God, nor indeed over any human disembodied spirit.” Samuel really came, but not because the medium called for him. 1. 1. 1 Samuel 28 – Saul and the Medium of Endor. Though the woman could not cause Samuel's being sent, yet Saul's inquiry might be the occasion of it. d. And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth”: The Hebrew word translated by “spirit” in the New King James Version is actually the Hebrew word elohim – literally, “gods” but often applied to the One God in plural form. 2. It was called the `Spring of Trembling' (Judges 7:1, KJV). : Saul left this strange encounter resigned to his sad and tragic fate. : God allowed this strange appearance of Samuel because it accomplished two things. The woman came to Saul and saw that he was severely troubled: It’s a sad note when a practitioner of the occult comforts the King of Israel. "Wizards and mediums" (1 Samuel 28:3). Christians should have nothing to do with occultist arts or practices. Samuel appeared because God had a special purpose for it. The English word medium has in mind the concept of a channel – they stand in-between the world of the living and the dead and communicate between the two worlds. i. 1. And they ate: The dinner Saul ate that night was like the last meal of a man on death row, awaiting execution in the morning. Before this time, Saul had plenty of time to repent but now time has run out. It is likely that when Samuel appeared before the medium and Saul, he wore this same torn robe to remind Saul that the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. d. As He spoke by me… the voice of the LORD: Essentially, Samuel confirmed what God already said to Saul. But the kind attentions of the woman and his servants having revived him, he returned to the camp to await his doom. David could not refuse Achish without danger. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. All Samuel told him was what would happen, and God’s judgment was already in motion. The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. Achish, however, seems to have thought he had gained the confidence of David and had a claim on his services. The Hebrew word for, , and it has the idea of “mumbling” or speaking with a strange, hollow sound – as if one were “channeling,” with a dead person speaking through them. All other rights reserved. But this doesn’t make sense because it doesn’t explain why the medium was so frightened. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. The message of the LORD to Saul is disturbingly consistent, no matter which strange way God chooses to bring the message. For you are Saul!” And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. "Endor is the modern Khirbet es-Safsafe about four miles south of Mount Tabor ... Psalms 83:10 indicates that Barak and Deborah defeated Jabin and Sisera in this area. "[8], "The Lord did not answer him ... by dreams ... by Urim ... or by prophets." Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 2. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.” Then Samuel said: “Why then do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? a. Samuel had died: Samuel’s death was originally reported in 1 Samuel 25:1. But this also isn’t an adequate explanation, for the same reasons given to the previous suggestion. . If he promised assistance, and then stood neuter, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. In 1 Samuel 28:15, Saul asked to know, . A. Saul’s distressing situation 1. ", "Philistines gathered their forces ... to fight against Israel" (1 Samuel 28:1). "[17] He also was using the passage as light upon the question of the type of body that will be raised from the dead. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - eBook. Now therefore, please, heed also the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on, way.” But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” So his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he heeded their voice. The woman came to Saul and saw that he was severely troubled. d. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly: Long before his downward spiral when Saul still walked in the Spirit, he was a man of great courage (as in 1 Samuel 11:6-11). But while one repenting thought remains, let no sinner suppose himself in this case. Saul began to lose his courage when the Spirit withdrew from him (1 Samuel 16:14) and now after the death of Samuel his courage seems almost completely gone. : Samuel’s death was originally reported in 1 Samuel 25:1. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient, G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. g. It was Samuel: God allowed this strange appearance of Samuel because it accomplished two things. King Saul has rejected and is currently rejecting God’s previously revealed will. iii. a. The discovery of the truth about what is written here depends upon the manner in which a number of these questions are answered. ii. If we want God to guide us, we must follow what guidance we already have from Him. So she brought. It is impossible to imagine anything any more fraudulent, any more evil, or any more founded absolutely upon falsehood than the profession of such followers of the devil as the mediums and wizards; one of the best known of those persons was the notorious Witch of Endor who is featured in this chapter.

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