The big picture
1 Samuel 28 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto…”, and closes in verse 25 with “And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they…” Repeated or prominent terms include Saul, LORD, woman, Samuel, Philistines. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Samuel · King James Version · 251 Samuel 28:1-7
1–7: It came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their…
1 Samuel 28:1–7 opens with “And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for…” and reaches “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 28 develops its own movement around Saul, LORD, woman, Samuel, Philistines, with particular weight carried by Saul, Achish, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
“And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I…” Naming Achish and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put…” Naming Israel and Ramah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 28:1-7
King James Version1And 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.
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.
1 Samuel 28:8-14
8–14: Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two…
1 Samuel 28:8–14 opens with “And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and…” and reaches “And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 28 develops its own movement around Saul, LORD, woman, Samuel, Philistines, with particular weight carried by Saul, woman, Samuel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 5 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Samuel 28:8-14
King James Version8And 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.
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 28:15-21
15–21: Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And…
1 Samuel 28:15–21 opens with “And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am…” and reaches “And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 28 develops its own movement around Saul, LORD, woman, Samuel, Philistines, with particular weight carried by LORD, hand, Saul.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“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…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 28:15-21
King James Version15And 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.
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.
1 Samuel 28:22-25
22–25: Therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine…
1 Samuel 28:22–25 opens with “Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a…” and reaches “And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 28 develops its own movement around Saul, LORD, woman, Samuel, Philistines, with particular weight carried by bread, servants, voice.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, goest, handmaid. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Samuel 28:22-25
King James Version22Now 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
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.
Which promise most directly answers Jacob's situation?
God will be with him, keep him and bring him back to the land in verse 15.
How does the place change for Jacob?
An ordinary stopping place becomes recognized as the setting of divine encounter.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.