1 Samuel: Chapter 28 | New to His Word

The big picture

The Philistines, Israel's enemies, prepare for war, and their king Achish expects David, the Israelite living under his protection, to join them. Saul, Israel's king, is terrified by the enemy force. Samuel, the prophet who once guided him, has died. God gives Saul no answer through the usual means. Desperate for direction, Saul seeks a woman who claims contact with the dead, despite having expelled such people himself.

In this chapter

War Approaches and God Gives No Answer 1 Samuel 28:1-6
Achish tells David that he and his men must join the coming war.
Saul Visits a Medium in Disguise 1 Samuel 28:7-11
Saul asks his servants to find a woman who contacts spirits.
The Woman Recognises Saul 1 Samuel 28:12-14
When the woman sees Samuel, she cries out and recognises that her visitor is Saul.
Samuel Announces Defeat and Death 1 Samuel 28:15-19
Samuel asks why Saul has disturbed him.
The Woman Feeds a Terrified King 1 Samuel 28:20-25
Saul falls full length on the ground, terrified by Samuel's words and weakened because he has not eaten all day or night.

Central truth

Saul seeks forbidden guidance when God is silent, only to hear that the judgment already announced against him will soon arrive.

1 Samuel 28: Saul Seeks Samuel Through a Forbidden Medium

Scripture beside the summary

1 Samuel · King James Version · 25

1 Samuel 28:1-6

War Approaches and God Gives No Answer

Achish tells David that he and his men must join the coming war. David gives an answer that does not state plainly what he will do, and Achish appoints him as a personal guard. The account then returns to Saul. Samuel is dead, and Saul has removed mediums and spirit workers from the land. Facing the Philistine army, Saul trembles. He asks God for guidance but receives no answer through dreams, priestly means, or prophets. His fear meets silence instead of the direction he seeks.

In everyday life

An isolated ship captain faces a worsening storm and repeatedly calls the adviser whose warnings he has ignored. The radio remains silent, and the familiar chart no longer settles his fear. He keeps looking for a voice to tell him what to do. Saul's silence comes from God, not from a failed human communication link.

Notice

1 Samuel 28:6 Several accepted ways of seeking guidance bring no answer. Saul's problem is not that he has overlooked one available route to a message from God.

1 Samuel 28:1-6

King James Version

1And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

2And 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.

3Now 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.

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

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

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

1 Samuel 28:7-11

Saul Visits a Medium in Disguise

Saul asks his servants to find a woman who contacts spirits. They direct him to Endor, a town where such a woman lives. He changes his clothes and goes by night with two men. She fears a trap because Saul has expelled people who do this work. Saul swears by God that she will not be punished. When she asks whom he wants brought up, he names Samuel. The king invokes God's name while protecting the very practice he has forbidden in his own land.

In everyday life

A licensing inspector enters an illegal gambling room in plain clothes after closing similar rooms all year. The operator fears a trap. He promises that his visit will bring no penalty and asks for access to the game. His need has reversed his public stance. Saul seeks contact with the dead, a forbidden spiritual practice.

Notice

1 Samuel 28:10 Saul uses God's name to guarantee protection for forbidden work. His oath exposes the conflict between the guidance he seeks and the path he chooses.

1 Samuel 28:7-11

King James Version

7Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

8And 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.

9And 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?

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

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

1 Samuel 28:12-14

The Woman Recognises Saul

When the woman sees Samuel, she cries out and recognises that her visitor is Saul. She accuses him of deceiving her. He tells her not to fear and asks what she sees. She describes a being rising from the earth, then an old man wrapped in a robe. Saul understands this to be Samuel and bows low. Christians differ over how to understand this appearance; the account itself names Samuel. It gives no detailed explanation of how the encounter takes place.

In everyday life

An estate valuer opens a sealed portrait box while a disguised visitor watches. She gasps at the face and suddenly recognises who the visitor must be. He asks her to describe what she sees before stepping closer. Recognition changes the whole encounter. This offers no equivalent for the appearance of a dead prophet.

Notice

1 Samuel 28:14 Saul identifies Samuel from the woman's description of an old man in a robe. The account gives her report before describing Saul's recognition and bow.

1 Samuel 28:12-14

King James Version

12And 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.

13And 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.

14And 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.

1 Samuel 28:15-19

Samuel Announces Defeat and Death

Samuel asks why Saul has disturbed him. Saul explains that the Philistines threaten him and God no longer answers. He wants instructions. Samuel asks why Saul seeks him when God has become his enemy. The kingdom is being taken from Saul and given to David, as already announced. Samuel connects this judgment with Saul's disobedience concerning Amalek, the people he was commanded to destroy. Israel will lose the coming battle, and Saul and his sons will join Samuel among the dead the next day.

In everyday life

One dismissed sea captain visits his former examiner after every appeal to regain his licence has failed. He hopes the old mentor knows another route back. Instead, the examiner repeats the judgment and its immediate consequences. A different door has brought the same answer. Samuel also announces imminent death and national defeat, beyond professional loss.

Notice

1 Samuel 28:17 Samuel repeats an earlier judgment rather than offering a new escape. Saul's forbidden approach does not overturn the word he already received while Samuel lived.

1 Samuel 28:15-19

King James Version

15And 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.

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

17And 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 neighbour, even to David:

18Because 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.

19Moreover 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.

1 Samuel 28:20-25

The Woman Feeds a Terrified King

Saul falls full length on the ground, terrified by Samuel's words and weakened because he has not eaten all day or night. The woman reminds him that she risked her life by obeying his request. She asks him to accept food for strength. He first refuses, but she and his servants persuade him. She quickly prepares a calf and bread without yeast. Saul and his servants eat, then leave in the darkness. The meal strengthens his body without changing the message he has heard.

In everyday life

A night porter kneels beside a guest who has collapsed after receiving devastating news. The guest refuses food, but the porter brings soup and stays until he eats. A taxi waits outside for the difficult return home. Small acts of care sustain him without altering the news. Saul leaves under an announced judgment of death.

Notice

1 Samuel 28:25 The chapter ends with food and departure into the night, not a changed verdict. Physical care enables Saul to leave but cannot remove the announced judgment.

1 Samuel 28:20-25

King James Version

20Then 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.

21And 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.

22Now 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.

23But 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.

24And 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:

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

Details worth noticing

25verses in this reading

5major movements

15verses with speech

7questions in the KJV text

The opening image

1 Samuel 28:1 begins with “And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know…”

Where the chapter turns

1 Samuel 28:13 forms a natural hinge: “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.”

The final note

1 Samuel 28:25 leaves the reader with “And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.”

A word trail through the chapter

The words Saul, LORD, woman, Samuel, Philistines, familiar help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

KJV words made clear

Urim: Sacred objects used by priests to seek God's decision; their exact form is not described here.

Music and video connected to the passage

Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.