1 Samuel 28: Saul goes to the woman at Endor, and Samuel speaks to him
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What happens?
The Philistines gather for war against Israel, and Achish tells David that he and his men will go out with him. Samuel has died, and Saul has removed those who have familiar spirits and the wizards from the land. When Saul sees the Philistine army at Shunem he is terrified, and Yahweh does not answer him by dreams, by Urim or by prophets. So Saul disguises himself and goes by night to a woman at Endor who has a familiar spirit, and asks her to bring up Samuel. The woman sees Samuel and cries out, and says she sees a god (or: gods) coming up out of the earth. Samuel tells Saul that Yahweh has torn the kingdom from him and given it to David, and that tomorrow Saul and his sons will be with him. Saul falls to the ground with no strength; the woman and his servants persuade him to eat, and they leave that night.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Achish and David speak in verses 1 and 2. Saul and his servants speak in verse 7. Saul and the woman speak in verses 8 to 14. The text names the speaker in verses 15 to 19 as Samuel, and Saul answers him in verse 15. Samuel's words tell what Yahweh has done and will do, but they are not Yahweh's own words. The woman speaks to Saul in verses 21 and 22, and Saul answers in verse 23. Verse 6, that Yahweh did not answer Saul, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1In those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, “Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the army, you and your men.”
In plain English: In those days the Philistines gathered their armies (literally: camps) for war, to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, "You must know for certain that you and your men will go out with me in the army."
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2David said to Achish, “Therefore you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.”
In plain English: David said to Achish, "Then you will know what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "Then I will make you my bodyguard (literally: keeper of my head) for good (literally: all the days; this Bible: forever)."
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3Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had sent away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land.
In plain English: Now Samuel had died. All Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own town. And Saul had removed from the land those who had familiar spirits and the wizards.
The Hebrew words: "Those who had familiar spirits" is ob, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a mumble, i.e. a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar)". In verses 8 and 11 Saul asks such a woman to bring up the one he names. "Wizards" is yidde'oni, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a knowing one; specifically, a conjurer", and by implication "a ghost". In 1 Samuel ob is in 4 verses, all in this chapter, and this Bible says "familiar" in all 4.
Good to know: The law speaks of both in and , where this Bible says "mediums" and "wizards". The text here does not say when Saul removed them. In verse 9 the woman says Saul "has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land".
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4The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.
In plain English: The Philistines gathered, came, and camped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.
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5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
In plain English: When Saul saw the army (literally: camp) of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
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6When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn’t answer him by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.
In plain English: Saul asked Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him: not by dreams, not by Urim, and not by prophets.
Good to know: puts the Urim and the Thummim in the breastplate of judgment, on Aaron's heart. The text does not explain how the Urim gave an answer. Once before, when Saul asked counsel of God, "he didn't answer him that day" ().
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7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.”
In plain English: Then Saul said to his servants, "Look for a woman who has a familiar spirit, so that I can go to her and ask through her." His servants said to him, "There is a woman at Endor who has a familiar spirit."
The Hebrew words: "A woman who has a familiar spirit" is word for word "a woman, mistress of an ob" (see the note on verse 3). "Mistress" is ba'alah, which the dictionary gives as "a mistress". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "a woman who has in her a divining spirit".
Good to know: Endor is named among the towns of Manasseh in . Later, says Saul died "for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh ... and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit". 1 Samuel itself makes no comment here.
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8Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. Then he said, “Please consult for me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you.”
In plain English: Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went with two men. They came to the woman by night. He said, "Please consult (or: divine) for me by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me the one I name to you."
The Hebrew word: "Consult" is qasam, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine". A word built from it, qesem, is the "witchcraft" in Samuel's words to Saul in : "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft".
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9The woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
In plain English: The woman said to him, "Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off from the land those who have familiar spirits and the wizards. Why then are you laying a trap for my life, to get me killed?"
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10Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, “As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”
In plain English: Saul swore to her by Yahweh, "As Yahweh lives, no punishment (or: guilt) will come on you for this."
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11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up to you?” He said, “Bring Samuel up for me.”
In plain English: Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."
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12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”
In plain English: When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. The woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"
Good to know: The text says "the woman saw Samuel" (verse 12), Saul "perceived that it was Samuel" (verse 14), and it names the speaker as Samuel in verses 15 and 16. It does not say how he came up, or why the woman cried out when she saw him. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) also has "the woman saw Samuel".
Church tradition: Jewish and Christian readers have understood this scene in different ways. Some read that Samuel himself appeared. Some read that it was a spirit that looked like Samuel, and some that it was a deception. The text tells what happened and what was said, and does not decide between these.
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13The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
In plain English: The king said to her, "Do not be afraid! What do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god (or: gods) coming up out of the earth."
The Hebrew word: "A god" is elohim, which the dictionary gives as "gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used ... of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative". "Coming up" is in the plural in the Hebrew, so word for word she says "I see gods coming up out of the earth". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "I saw gods ascending out of the earth".
What changes: Read as "a god", or with the dictionary as a great one, she saw one figure, and in verse 14 she describes one old man. Read as "gods", she saw more than one being coming up. The text does not explain what she meant.
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14He said to her, “What does he look like?” She said, “An old man comes up. He is covered with a robe.” Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and showed respect.
In plain English: He said to her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bent low with his face to the ground and bowed down (this Bible: showed respect).
Good to know: "Robe" is me'il, the word for the little robe Hannah made for the boy Samuel every year (), and for the robe of Samuel that Saul tore (). The Hebrew has "an old man". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "an upright man".
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15Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?” Saul answered, “I am very distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me no more, by prophets, or by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.”
In plain English: Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress. The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me and no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called you, so that you can tell me what to do."
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16Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since Yahweh has departed from you and has become your adversary?
In plain English: Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since Yahweh has turned away from you and has become your enemy (this Bible: adversary)?
The Hebrew word: "Adversary" is ar, which the dictionary gives as "a foe (as watchful for mischief)". It is in only 2 verses: here and , where this Bible says "enemies". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "taken part with thy neighbour" instead.
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17Yahweh has done to you as he spoke by me. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
In plain English: Yahweh has done to you (literally: to him) just as he said through me (literally: by my hand). Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.
Good to know: Samuel had said to Saul in , "Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you." Here David is named. The Hebrew has "Yahweh has done to him"; this Bible and the old Greek translation (Brenton) have "to you".
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18Because you didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, and didn’t execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you today.
In plain English: Because you did not obey Yahweh's voice, and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek, Yahweh has done this to you today.
Good to know: This points back to chapter 15, where Saul was told to strike Amalek and destroy all that they had (), and he and the people spared Agag and the best of the animals ().
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19Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
In plain English: What is more, Yahweh will give Israel too, along with you, into the hand of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also give the army (literally: camp) of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."
Good to know: The text does not say more about what "with me" means. Saul and three of his sons die in battle with the Philistines in to .
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20Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of Samuel’s words. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all day long or all night long.
In plain English: At once Saul fell full length on the ground, terrified because of Samuel's words. There was no strength in him, because he had eaten no food all day and all night.
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21The woman came to Saul and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, “Behold, your servant has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.
In plain English: The woman came to Saul and saw that he was badly shaken (this Bible: very troubled). She said to him, "Look, your servant has listened to you (literally: to your voice). I took my life in my hands (literally: put my life in my palm) and listened to the words you spoke to me.
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22Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your servant, and let me set a morsel of bread before you. Eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
In plain English: So now, please listen to your servant too, and let me set a bit (this Bible: morsel) of bread in front of you. Eat, so that you will have strength when you go on your way."
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23But he refused, and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
In plain English: But he refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, pressed (this Bible: constrained) him, and he listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed (or: couch).
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24The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried and killed it; and she took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread of it.
In plain English: The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked bread without yeast (this Bible: unleavened bread) from it.
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25She brought it before Saul and before his servants, and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night.
In plain English: She set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went away that same night.
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