1 Samuel 28:16-20 NVIPT

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:15-19

We have here the conference between Saul and Satan. Saul came in disguise (1 Sam. 28:8), but Satan soon discovered him, 1 Sam. 28:12. Satan comes in disguise, in the disguise of Samuel's mantle, and Saul cannot discover him. Such is the disadvantage we labour under, in wrestling with the rulers of the darkness of this world, that they know us, while we are ignorant of their wiles and devices. I. The spectre, or apparition, personating Samuel, asks why he is sent for (1 Sam. 28:15): Why hast... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:20-25

We are here told how Saul received this terrible message from the ghost he consulted. He desired to be told what he should do (1 Sam. 28:15), but was only told what he had not done and what should be done to him. Those that expect any good counsel or comfort otherwise than from God, and in the way of his institutions, will be as wretchedly disappointed as Saul here was. Observe, I. How he sunk under the load, 1 Sam. 28:20. He was indeed unfit to bear it, having eaten nothing all the day... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:16

Then said Samuel, wherefore then dost thou, ask of me ,.... Whom thou knowest to have been a prophet of the Lord, and therefore can say nothing more or less than what comes from him, and is according to his will, if anything at all; the "devil" representing Samuel, whom Saul had called for, and reasons in such language as might be thought to be his own, though sometimes he betrays himself: seeing the Lord is departed from thee ; as Saul himself owned: to which he adds: and is become... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:17

And the Lord hath done to him ,.... To David, Saul's enemy, as he insinuated he was: as he spake by me ; pretending to be the true Samuel, and wearing the guise of him, he speaks his very words, which he was well acquainted with, and could deliver exactly as he did: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour ; which words are expressed by Samuel, 1 Samuel 15:28 , even unto David ; which is added by the apparition, by way of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:18

Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord ,.... At Gilgal, as Abarbinel thinks; which is the first thing for which the kingdom was threatened to be taken from him, 1 Samuel 13:13 , nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek : in sparing Agag, and the best of the cattle, 1 Samuel 15:9 , therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day ; forsaken him, rent his kingdom from him, and would deliver him into the hands of the Philistines, as follows: had he been the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:19

Moreover, the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines ,.... Not a word of comfort does he speak unto him, it being the business of this foul spirit to drive him to despair by the permission of God; had he been the true Samuel, he would have directed him to have altered his course of life, and especially his behaviour toward David, and advised him in those difficulties to send for him, who might have been of singular use unto him; he would have exhorted him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:20

Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth ,.... Fell at his full length at once, as if he had been thunderstruck, or pierced through with a dart or sword: and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel ; as he supposed they were, whose words never failed: and there was no strength in him : to rise up again, he was quite dispirited and strengthless: for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night ; which contributed the more to his weakness; not only his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:16

Wherefore then dost thou ask of me - Was ever I wont to give answers that were not dictated by the Lord? It is his counsel alone that I communicate. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:17

The Lord hath done to him - I believe these words are spoken of Saul; and as they are spoken to him, it seems evident that him should be thee. The Vulgate has tibi , the Septuagint σοι , to Thee: and this is the reading of five of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., as well as of both the Bibles printed at Venice in 1518, where we read לך lecha , to Thee, instead of לו lo , to Him. As he spake by me - Here was no illusion; none but Samuel could say this. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:18

Nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek - See 1 Samuel 15:1-9 ; (note) and the notes there. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:15-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:20-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 28:18

Group of Brands