1 Samuel 28)
1: And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “Know you assuredly, that you shall go out with me to battle, you and your men.”
2: And David said to Achish, “Therefore you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore will I make you keeper of my head for ever.” (i.e. keeper of my bodyguard. David was in a real mess. He can't fight his own brothers)
D o¹ 3. Familiar spirits. Owner put away.
p q 4,5. Saul's fear of Philistines.
r 6. No answer from Yehovah.
o² 7-14. Familiar spirits. Woman sought.
p r 15-19. Answer from familiar spirit.
q 20. Saul's fear. (Of Yehovah.)
o³ 21-25. Familiar spirit. Woman spared.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 (familiar spirits are demons pretending to be dead persons; hence the word "necromancy". See Lev.19:31 and Isa.8:19), and the wizards (= wise, cunning, or knowing ones), out of the land.
4: And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem (double resting-place): and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa (a bubbling spring).
5: And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6: And when Saul asked of the Lord (Heb. sha’ãl, to ask. Not dãrash, "to seek out". See v.7, and 1 Chron. 10:13,14), the Lord answered him not (not likely therefore to answer now by a way He had forbidden. Samuel had been dead for 2 years), neither by dreams nor by Urim (see Ex. 28:30. Num. 26:55. It must have been an ephod of his own making, as Abiathar the High Priest was with David. Saul makes no mention of this in v.15), nor by prophets.
7: Then said Saul to his servants, “Seek me a woman (answering to the modern "mediums") that owns a familiar spirit (possesses as mistress. see Lev.19:31), that I may go to her, and seek out of her” (a deeper meaning than v.6. Cp. 1 Chron. 10:13,14). And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman that owns a familiar spirit at Endor.” (= fountain of dwelling)
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 you, divine to me by the familiar spirit (hence called necromancy), and bring me him up, whom I shall name to you.” (This is Evil Spirit, not that person. See 2 Cor. 5:7,8. Ecc. 12:7)
9: And the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: why then lay you a snare for my soul, to cause me to die?”
10: And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.”
11: Then said the woman, “Whom shall I bring up unto you?” (note: not down or forth) And he said, “Bring me up Samuel.”
12: And when the woman saw Samuel (or the materialization of a deceiving spirit impersonating Samuel, as is done by "mediums" today), she cried with a loud voice (evidently surprised, and getting more than expected): and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul.” (how should she know this but by a communication from the spirit)
13: And the king said to her, “Be not afraid: for what saw you?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a god (note small "g", or a spirit manifestation) ascending out of the earth.” (not down, or forth, as in John 11:43,44)
14: And he said to her, “What form is he of?” And she said, “An old man (not a spirit) comes up; and he is covered with a mantle.” (if a spirit, why a mantle? Samuel's spirit was with God [Ecc. 12:7]. And if Samuel's body, it would have "grave-clothes" [John 11:44) And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he did obeisance with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. (Discern that which is of God and that which is Evil)
15: And Samuel said to Saul (i.e. the spirit impersonating Samuel said. Just as it is done in the present day by the medium: never directly), “Why have you disquieted me (if Samuel, then it shows he was "quiet" before), to bring me up?” (not my spirit) And Saul answered, “I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more (therefore certainly not by means which He had expressly forbidden. See Lev. 19:31; 20:6,27. Deut. 18:10,13, &c.), neither by prophets (Saul omits the reference to "Urim" because it would remind him of the murder of the priests [22:18,19]. See v.6), nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.”
16: Then said Samuel (Yahaveh might have sent a "lying spirit", and given by it a true message, just as He did in 2 Chron.18:19-22. Nothing was said but what was well known before. Or the Evil Spirit is doing this to cause problems between David and Saul ), “Why then do you ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from you, and is become your enemy? (the Sept. reads "and has come to be with your neighbor". Cp. v.17 and 15:28)
17: And the Lord has done to him, according as He spoke by my hand: for the Lord has rent the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David:
18: Because you listened not to the voice of the Lord, nor executed His fierce wrath upon Amalek (this goes back to Saul's first sin), therefore has the Lord done this thing to you this day.
19: Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shall you and your sons be with me (i.e. with the dead): the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
20: Then Saul remained motionless all along on the earth (cp. Acts 9:7, where "stood speechless" = remained speechless. See Acts 26:14. The two passages together = fell, and remained so), and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no food all the day, nor all the night.
21: And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said to him, “Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.
22: Now therefore, I pray you, listen you also to the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way.”
23: But he refused, and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
24: And the woman had a fat calf in the shed; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
25: And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night. (Saul has received his information from an evil spirit)