Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 28:8-14

Saul’s conversation with the medium 28:8-14Evidently Saul knew the woman would not cooperate with him if she knew who he was, so he disguised himself (1 Samuel 28:8). He further hid his hypocrisy by visiting her under cover of darkness. Saul sank so low as to swear to the woman in the Lord’s name that he would not punish her for breaking the Lord’s Law (1 Samuel 28:10). This too was hypocrisy. He wanted to give a public impression of upholding the Mosaic Law, but really he broke it by seeking... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:1-25

Saul and the Witch of Endor1 Samuel 28:3-25 come from another document and interrupt the connexion, as will be seen if the account is read without them. In order of time their proper position is after 1 Samuel 30. In 1 Samuel 29:1 the Philistines are still in Aphek; in 1 Samuel 29:11 they advance to Jezreel, where we find them in 1 Samuel 28:4. In 1 Samuel 28:3-25 we have come to the eve of the battle, the account of which follows in 1 Samuel 31. 2. Keeper of mine head] i.e. captain of my... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 28:7

(7) Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit.—He was left alone to himself, and now the last spark of life, the religious zeal which he had once shown even to excess, then also vanished; or, rather. as must always be the case when it has thus swerved from the moral principle which alone can guide it, was turned into a wild and desperate superstition. The wizards and familiar spirits, whom in a fit of righteous indignation he had put out of the land, now became his only resource—Flectere si... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 28:8

(8) And Saul disguised himself.—The disguise and the time chosen for the expedition served a double purpose. The king would, he thought, be unknown in the darkness and disguise when he came to the witch’s dwelling, and there was, too, a far greater probability of his escaping his Philistine foes, whose army lay between him and the village of En-dor.Divine unto me by the familiar spirit.—Literally, divine unto me by the ôb. Keil’s remark is interesting: “Prophesying by the ôb was probably... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 28:1-25

Saul and the Witch of Endor 1 Samuel 28:7 I. How Valued and Beneficent Presences may be Withdrawn. What pathos there is in the fact that on the eve of dreaded battle Saul has not his friend, his teacher, his pastor, to consult. Samuel was dead. Samuel had been everything to Saul. But Saul had not treated him well. He had slighted his old friend. Saul would have given a great deal to have had his rejected and grieved friend now, but 'Samuel was dead'. II. How a Man may Cut Himself Off from... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:3-25

CHAPTER XXXIV.SAUL AT ENDOR.1 Samuel 28:3-25.FOR a considerable time Saul had been drifting along like a crippled vessel at sea, a melancholy example of a man forsaken of God. But as his decisive encounter with the Philistines drew on, the state of helplessness to which he had been reduced became more apparent than ever. He had sagacity enough to perceive that the expedition which the Philistines were now leading against him was the most formidable that had ever taken place in his day. It was... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 28:1-23

7. Saul and the Witch at Endor CHAPTER 28 1. David fully joined to Achish (1 Samuel 28:1-2 ) 2. Forsaken Saul (1 Samuel 28:3-6 ) 3. The command to seek a witch (1 Samuel 28:7 ) 4. Saul’s visit to Endor (1 Samuel 28:8-14 ) 5. Samuel’s solemn message (1 Samuel 28:15-20 ) 6. Saul’s despair and departure (1 Samuel 28:21-23 ) Saul’s final plunge towards his awful end is the main topic of this chapter. Israel had adopted necromancy, asking the dead, and other occult and wicked practices... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 28:8

28:8 And Saul {d} 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.(d) He does not seek God in his misery, but is led by Satan to unlawful means, which in his conscience he condemns. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:1-25

The inevitable conflict between Israel and the Philistines arises again, and David finds himself in an unpleasant situation Achish tells him that he and his men must accompany Achish to fight against Israel. Could he possibly do this? No! Could he explain this to Achish? Nol Instead he answers him In a way that sounded favorable to Achish, but did not commit himself one way or the other. He told him, "You shall know what your servant can do" (v.2). This sounded so enthusiastic to Achish that... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:1-25

SAUL ’S CAREER ENDED CALAMITY FORETOLD (1 Samuel 28:0 ) This chapter is important and illustrates again the deceptive character of Saul. Having professedly put the necromancers out of Israel in obedience to the divine command (Leviticus 19:31 ; Leviticus 20:27 ; Deuteronomy 18:10-11 ), he no sooner finds himself in straits than he seeks out one of them for his aid. Two questions arise. Did Samuel really come forth from the dead, and was it the woman’s power that brought him forth? To the... read more

Group of Brands