History · Chapter 28 of 31

1 Samuel 28

With Samuel dead and God silent to him, a terrified Saul faces the Philistine army and gets no answer by dream, Urim, or prophet. In desperation he disguises himself and visits a medium at Endor, asking her to summon Samuel. Samuel appears and announces Saul's doom: the kingdom is torn away, and tomorrow Saul and his sons will die.

What happens in 1 Samuel 28

The Philistines gather for war, and Saul, seeing their army, is gripped with fear. He inquires of the LORD but receives no answer by dreams, Urim, or prophets, for God has departed from him. Though Saul himself had banished mediums from the land, he now asks his servants to find one and learns of a woman at Endor. Disguised, he goes by night and asks her to bring up Samuel. When Samuel appears, the woman shrieks, recognizing that her visitor is Saul.

Samuel demands why Saul has disturbed him. Saul pleads that God has abandoned him and he needs guidance for the battle. Samuel delivers no comfort: the LORD has become his enemy and torn the kingdom away to David, because Saul disobeyed regarding Amalek. Tomorrow Israel will fall and Saul and his sons will join Samuel in death. Saul collapses, and the woman feeds him before he leaves.

1 Samuel 28 in context

Saul reigns near his end, rejected by God for earlier disobedience. He had rightly outlawed necromancy according to the law, yet now breaks his own decree, revealing how far he has fallen. Endor lay near the Philistine encampment.

The chapter is deliberately unsettling and much debated, but its main thrust is clear: a king cut off from God grasps at forbidden means and hears only his sentence confirmed.

Main themes of 1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 28 (KJV)

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Verses to carry from 1 Samuel 28

“And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.”1 Samuel 28:6

“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.”1 Samuel 28:15

“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.”1 Samuel 28:19

Reflection

There is a mercy in longing to hear from God, but Saul sought a word without a surrendered heart, and in a place God forbade. When you feel heaven is silent, ask whether you want direction or repentance. God is never truly beyond reach for the humble. Turn to the risen Christ, through whom the once-silent God still speaks.

A prayer from 1 Samuel 28