1 Samuel 28:3-7 NVIPT

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:1-6

Here is, I. The design of the Philistines against Israel. They resolved to fight them, 1 Sam. 28:1. If the Israelites had not forsaken God, there would have been no Philistines remaining to molest them; if Saul had not forsaken him, they would by this time have been put out of all danger by them. The Philistines took an opportunity to make this attempt when they had David among them, whom they feared more than Saul and all his forces. II. The expectation Achish had of assistance from David in... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:7-14

Here, I. Saul seeks for a witch, 1 Sam. 28:7. When God answered him not, if he had humbled himself by repentance and persevered in seeking God, who knows but that at length he might have been entreated for him? but, since he can discern no comfort either from heaven or earth (Isa. 8:21, 22), he resolves to knock at the gates of hell, and to see if any there will befriend him and give him advice: Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, 1 Sam. 28:7. And his servants were too officious to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:3

Now Samuel was dead ,.... Had been so for some time; which is mentioned before, 1 Samuel 25:1 ; and here repeated, partly to observe the reason of the Philistines renewing the war, and partly to account for the conduct of Saul, in seeking to a witch to raise Samuel, and for the sake of that story: and all Israel lamented him ; as they had great reason to do; See Gill on 1 Samuel 25:1 ; and buried him in Ramah, even his own city; there being two Ramahs, as Kimchi observes, it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:4

And the Philistines gathered themselves together ,.... From different parts, and formed a considerable army: and came and pitched in Shunem ; a city, in the borders of the tribe of Issachar, of which See Gill on Joshua 19:18 , and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa ; a range of mountains, near Jezreel, and which Jerom F2 De loc. Heb fol. 92. D. calls the mountains of the Philistines, six miles from Scythopolis, where there is a large village called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:5

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines ,.... From the mountains of Gilboa, where he had pitched his camp: he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled ; on sight of the numbers of them, and thinking perhaps of the death of Samuel, and of the loss of David; who was now among the Philistines, and might possibly fight against him, and for the Philistines, of which he might be informed; however, he was not with him, and his conscience might accuse him of various sins he had been... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:6

And when Saul inquired of the Lord ,.... And this being not done truly and heartily, nor continued in, it was as if he had not inquired, and especially after he had inquired of one that had a familiar spirit, as Kimchi observes; for so it is said, 1 Chronicles 10:14 , the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams ; which he dreamed himself, from whence he could not conclude anything relating to the will of God; so the Targum,"the Lord did not receive his prayer even by dreams;'or by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:7

Then said Saul unto his servants ,.... That waited upon him, to some of them, to such as he could place most confidence in to keep a secret; perhaps only the two after mentioned: seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her ; that was mistress of the bottle, a ventriloquist, that spoke out of her belly, or seemed to do; who had the spirit of Python or divination, conversed with the devil, and by his assistance pretended to bring up a dead person,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:3

Samuel was dead - And there was no longer a public accredited prophet to consult. Those that had familiar spirits , and the wizards - See the note on Leviticus 19:31 , and Exodus 22:18 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:5

When Saul saw - He saw from the superiority of his enemies, from the state of his army, and especially from his own state towards God, that he had every thing to fear. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:6

The Lord answered him not - He used the three methods by which supernatural intelligence was ordinarily given: - Dreams. - The person prayed for instruction; and begged that God would answer by a significant dream. Urim. - This was a kind of oracular answer given to the high priest when clothed with the ephod, on which were the Urim and Thummim. How these communicated the answer, is not well known. 3. Prophets. - Who were requested by the party concerned to consult the Lord on... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:1-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:7-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:6

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