Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 28

Introduction

Overview

1 Samuel 28:1, Achish puts confidence in David; 1 Samuel 28:3, Saul having destroyed the witches, 1 Samuel 28:4, and now in his fear forsaken of God, 1 Samuel 28:7, has recourse to a witch; 1 Samuel 28:8, who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel; 1 Samuel 28:15, Saul hearing his ruin, faints; 1 Samuel 28:21, The woman and his servants refresh him with meat.

Verse 1

that the: 1 Samuel 7:7, 1 Samuel 13:5, 1 Samuel 17:1, 1 Samuel 29:1

Philistines: Judges 3:1-4

thou shalt go: 1 Samuel 27:12, 1 Samuel 29:2, 1 Samuel 29:3

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 31:1 - the Philistines 1 Chronicles 10:1 - the Philistines fought

Verse 2

Surely: 1 Samuel 27:10, 2 Samuel 16:16-19, Romans 12:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:6 - for ever 1 Samuel 29:1 - the Philistines 1 Samuel 29:2 - but David 1 Samuel 29:8 - that I may not 2 Samuel 16:19 - should I not serve Psalms 60:7 - strength Song of Solomon 3:7 - threescore

Verse 3

Samuel: 1 Samuel 25:1, Isaiah 57:1, Isaiah 57:2

put away: 1 Samuel 28:9, Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:10, Deuteronomy 18:11, Acts 16:16-19

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:2 - mourn 1 Samuel 7:13 - against 1 Samuel 19:18 - to Samuel 1 Samuel 28:7 - a familiar spirit 1 Samuel 28:12 - thou art Saul 2 Kings 23:24 - the workers Acts 8:2 - made Hebrews 11:32 - Samuel

Verse 4

Shunem: Joshua 19:18, 2 Kings 4:8

Gilboa: 1 Samuel 31:1, 2 Samuel 1:6, 2 Samuel 1:21, 2 Samuel 21:12

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 28:15 - the Philistines 1 Samuel 29:1 - Jezreel 1 Kings 1:3 - Shunammite 1 Chronicles 10:1 - mount Psalms 108:8 - Ephraim

Verse 5

he was afraid: Job 15:21, Job 18:11, Psalms 48:5, Psalms 48:6, Psalms 73:19, Proverbs 10:24, Isaiah 7:2, Isaiah 21:3, Isaiah 21:4, Isaiah 57:20, Isaiah 57:21, Daniel 5:6

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 28:20 - sore afraid Ezekiel 20:31 - and shall Acts 9:6 - trembling

Verse 6

inquired: 1 Samuel 14:37, 1 Chronicles 10:14, Proverbs 1:27, Proverbs 1:28, Lamentations 2:9, Ezekiel 20:1-3, John 9:31, James 4:3

by dreams: Genesis 28:12-15, Genesis 46:2-4, Numbers 12:6, Job 33:14-16, Jeremiah 23:28, Matthew 1:20

by Urim: Exodus 28:20, Numbers 27:21, Deuteronomy 33:8

by prophets: Psalms 74:9, Lamentations 2:9, Ezekiel 20:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:22 - inquire Exodus 28:30 - General 1 Samuel 23:4 - yet again 1 Samuel 28:15 - answereth 1 Samuel 30:8 - he answered him 2 Samuel 5:19 - And the Lord 2 Samuel 22:42 - unto the Lord 2 Kings 4:31 - neither voice 2 Kings 6:33 - this evil is of the Lord Ezra 2:63 - Urim Song of Solomon 5:6 - I sought Jeremiah 21:2 - Inquire Ezekiel 14:3 - should Ezekiel 20:31 - and shall Amos 8:11 - but Micah 3:7 - no John 10:35 - unto John 11:51 - being

Verse 7

Seek me: 2 Kings 1:2, 2 Kings 1:3, 2 Kings 6:33, Isaiah 8:19, Isaiah 8:20, Lamentations 3:25, Lamentations 3:26, Habakkuk 2:3

a familiar spirit: 1 Samuel 28:3, Deuteronomy 18:11, Isaiah 19:3, Acts 16:16

that I may: Leviticus 19:31, 1 Chronicles 10:13, Isaiah 8:19

Endor: En-dor, a city of Manasseh, was situated in the plain of Jezreel; and Eusebius and Jerome inform us, that it was a great town in their days, four miles south from Mount Tabor, near Nain, towards Scythopolis. This agrees with Maundrell, who says, that not many miles eastward of Tabor, you see mount Hermon, at the foot of which is seated Nain and Endor; and Burckhardt says, that in two hours and a half from Nazareth, towards Scythopolis or Bisan, they came to the village of Denouny, near which are the ruins of Endor; where the witch's grotto is shewn. Joshua 17:11, Psalms 83:10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 20:27 - a familiar Deuteronomy 18:10 - that useth divination Acts 19:19 - used

Verse 8

disguised: 1 Kings 14:2, 1 Kings 14:3, 1 Kings 22:30, 1 Kings 22:34, Job 24:13-15, Jeremiah 23:24, John 3:19

I pray thee: Deuteronomy 18:11, 1 Chronicles 10:13, Isaiah 8:19

bring me: 1 Samuel 28:15

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 18:29 - I will disguise Ezekiel 12:6 - cover

Verse 9

how he hath: 1 Samuel 28:3

wherefore: 2 Samuel 18:13, 2 Kings 5:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:18 - General Deuteronomy 18:10 - that useth divination

Verse 10

sware: 1 Samuel 14:39, 1 Samuel 19:6, Genesis 3:5, Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 2 Samuel 14:11, Matthew 26:72, Mark 6:23

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 29:6 - the Lord 2 Samuel 13:28 - fear not 2 Samuel 19:23 - sware Matthew 14:9 - the oath's

Verse 11

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 18:11 - or a necromancer 1 Samuel 28:15 - Why hast

Verse 12

thou art Saul: 1 Samuel 28:3, 1 Kings 14:5

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 19:17 - Why hast Matthew 14:26 - they were

Verse 13

gods ascending: Exodus 4:16, Exodus 22:28, Psalms 82:6, Psalms 82:7, John 10:34, John 10:35

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:28 - fear not Luke 24:37 - General

Verse 14

What form is he of: Heb. What is his form

a mantle: 1 Samuel 15:27, 2 Kings 2:8, 2 Kings 2:13, 2 Kings 2:14

Reciprocal: Judges 16:20 - the Lord 1 Samuel 28:19 - and to morrow 1 Kings 1:45 - This is 1 Kings 19:19 - his mantle 2 Kings 1:7 - What manner of man was he

Verse 15

Why hast: 1 Samuel 28:8, 1 Samuel 28:11

I am sore: Proverbs 5:11-13, Proverbs 14:14, Jeremiah 2:17, Jeremiah 2:18

the Philistines: 1 Samuel 28:4

God: 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 16:14, 1 Samuel 18:12, Judges 16:20, Psalms 51:11, Hosea 9:12, Matthew 25:41

answereth: 1 Samuel 28:6, 1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 23:4, 1 Samuel 23:9, 1 Samuel 23:10

prophets: Heb. the hand of prophets

therefore: Luke 16:23-26

Reciprocal: Judges 10:9 - distressed 1 Samuel 30:8 - he answered him 1 Samuel 31:1 - the Philistines Psalms 27:3 - war Jeremiah 21:2 - Inquire Amos 8:11 - but Micah 3:7 - no 2 Corinthians 4:8 - yet

Verse 16

Wherefore: Judges 5:31, 2 Kings 6:27, Psalms 68:1-3, Revelation 18:20, Revelation 18:24, Revelation 19:1-6

and is become: Lamentations 2:5

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 30:8 - he answered him Job 13:24 - holdest me Psalms 27:3 - war Isaiah 8:19 - should not Hosea 9:12 - woe Matthew 27:4 - see Luke 16:24 - have Acts 13:22 - when

Verse 17

to him: or, for himself, The LXX read ףןי, and the Vulgate tibi, to thee; which is the reading of five of Dr. Kennicott's and De Rossi's manuscripts, as well as both the Bibles printed at Venice in 1518, where we read lecha, "to thee," for lo, "to him;" and as the words are spoken to Saul, this seems to be evidently the correct reading. Proverbs 16:4

as he spake: 1 Samuel 13:13, 1 Samuel 13:14, 1 Samuel 15:27-29

me: Heb. mine hand

thy neighbour: 1 Samuel 15:28, 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 24:20

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:9 - as the Lord 1 Chronicles 10:14 - turned 1 Chronicles 11:3 - according

Verse 18

obeyedst: 1 Samuel 13:9, 1 Samuel 15:9, 1 Samuel 15:23-26, 1 Kings 20:42, 1 Chronicles 10:13, Jeremiah 48:10

hath the Lord: Psalms 50:21, Psalms 50:22

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 15:28 - The Lord 1 Kings 14:6 - for I am

Verse 19

the Lord: 1 Samuel 12:25, 1 Samuel 31:1-6, 1 Kings 22:20, 1 Kings 22:28

and to morrow: 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 1 Samuel 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. Exodus 9:18, Jeremiah 28:16, Jeremiah 28:17, Daniel 5:25-28, Matthew 26:24, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:9, Acts 5:10

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 31:6 - General 2 Kings 1:4 - but shalt Esther 6:13 - If Mordecai Psalms 7:16 - General Psalms 63:9 - go Proverbs 27:1 - thou Hebrews 10:27 - a certain

Verse 20

fell straightway: Heb. made haste and fell with the fullness of his stature

sore afraid: 1 Samuel 28:5, 1 Samuel 25:37, Job 15:20-24, Job 26:2, Psalms 50:21, Psalms 50:22

Reciprocal: Esther 6:13 - If Mordecai Psalms 73:19 - they are Isaiah 23:10 - no more Hebrews 10:27 - a certain

Verse 21

I have put: 1 Samuel 19:5, Judges 12:3, Job 13:14

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:11 - Therefore

Verse 23

I will: 1 Kings 21:4, Proverbs 25:20

compelled him: 2 Kings 4:8, Luke 14:23, Luke 24:29, Acts 16:15, 2 Corinthians 5:14

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 12:17 - the elders Proverbs 7:21 - forced

Verse 24

a fat calf: Genesis 18:7, Genesis 18:8, Luke 15:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:3 - unleavened