1,2 Achish puts confidence in David 3 Saul having destroyed the witches 4-6 and now in his fear forsaken of God 7 has recourse to a witch 8-14 who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel 15-20 Saul hearing his ruin, faints 21-25 The woman and his servants refresh him with meat

that the 1Sa 7:7 13:5 17:1 29:1

Philistines Jud 3:1-4

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

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.

Surely 1Sa 27:10 2Sa 16:16-19 Ro 12:9

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.

Samuel 1Sa 25:1 Isa 57:1,2

put away 1Sa 28:9 Ex 22:18 Le 19:31 20:6,27 De 18:10,11 Ac 16:16-19

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

Shunem Jos 19:18 2Ki 4:8

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

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

he was afraid Job 15:21 18:11 Ps 48:5,6 73:19 Pr 10:24 Isa 7:2 21:3,4 57:20,21 Da 5:6

6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

enquired 1Sa 14:37 1Ch 10:14 Pr 1:,27,28 La 2:9 Eze 20:1-3 Joh 9:31 Jas 4:3

by dreams Ge 28:12-15 46:2-4 Nu 12:6 Job 33:14-16 Jer 23:28 Mt 1:20

by Urim Ex 28:20 Nu 27:21 De 33:8

by prophets Ps 74:9 La 2:9 Eze 20:3

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.

Seek me 2Ki 1:2,3 6:33 Isa 8:19,20 La 3:25,26 Hab 2:3

a familiar spirit 1Sa 28:3 De 18:11 Isa 19:3 Ac 16:16

that I may Le 19:31 1Ch 10:13 Isa 8:19

En-dor 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 grato is shown. Jos 17:11 Ps 83:10

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 1Ki 14:2,3 22:30,34 Job 24:13-15 Jer 23:24 Joh 3:19

I pray thee De 18:11 1Ch 10:13 Isa 8:19

bring me 1Sa 28:15

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?

how he hath 1Sa 28:3

wherefore 2Sa 18:13 2Ki 5:7

10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

sware 1Sa 14:39 19:6 Ge 3:5 Ex 20:7 De 18:10-12 2Sa 14:11 Mt 26:72 Mr 6:23

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

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.

thou art Saul 1Sa 28:3 1Ki 14:5

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.

gods ascending Ex 4:16 22:28 Ps 82:6,7 Joh 10:34,35

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.

What form is he of? [heb] What is his form?
a mantle 1Sa 15:27 2Ki 2:8,13,14

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.

Why hast 1Sa 28:8,11

I am sore Pr 5:11-13 14:14 Jer 2:17,18

the Philistines 1Sa 28:4

God 1Sa 16:13,14 18:12 Jud 16:20 Ps 51:11 Ho 9:12 Mt 25:41

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

prophets [heb] the hand of prophets
therefore Lu 16:23-26

16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

Wherefore Jud 5:31 2Ki 6:27 Ps 68:1-3 Re 18:20,24 19:1-6

and is become La 2:5

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 neighbor, even to David:

to him. or, hor himself The LXX, read (), and the Vulgate {tibi}, to {thee}; which is the reading of Dr. Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., 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. Pr 16:4

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

me [heb] mine hand
thy neighbour 1Sa 15:28 16:13 24:20

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.

obeyedst 1Sa 13:9 15:9,23-26 1Ki 20:42 1Ch 10:13 Jer 48:10

hath the Lord Ps 50:21,22

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.

the Lord 1Sa 12:25 31:1-6 1Ki 22:20,28

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 ver. 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. Ex 9:18 Jer 28:16,17 Da 5:25-28 Mt 26:24 Ac 5:5,9,10

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.

fell straightway [heb] made haste and fell with the fullness of his stature.

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

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.

I have put 1Sa 19:5 Jud 12:3 Job 13:14

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.

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.

I will 1Ki 21:4 Pr 25:20

compelled him 2Ki 4:8 Lu 14:23 24:29 Ac 16:15 2Co 5:14

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:

a fat calf Ge 18:7,8 Lu 15:23

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.