1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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106 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionSaul's attempt to secure divine guidance from a medium 28:3-25The story involving Saul's meeting with the "witch" of En-dor is one of the best known in1 Samuel. It contains some unique events that have troubled Bible students for manyyears. Again the spotlight of revelation turns back to Saul from David. We see here thespiritual insensibility of Saul due to his departure from God."This visit to the medium of Endor is cited by the Chronicler as proofpositive that Saul deserved the judgment that fell on him at Gilboa (1 Ch.10:13)." 296The threat of Philistine attack 28:3-7Samuel's death and the mention of Saul's commendable removal of mediums andspiritists prepare for what follows (cf. Lev. 19:3; Deut. 18:11). Mediums are people whocommunicate with the dead, and spiritists are those who communicate with evil spirits.The terms always go together in the Old Testament indicating the close relationship thatexists between these activities. The Mosaic Law prescribed death for mediums andspiritists because God promised to give His people all the information He wanted them tohave about the future from prophets (Deut. 18). It was unwise, even dangerous andtherefore forbidden, for them to seek more information from these other sources.Shunem stood on the south slope of the hill of Moreh that occupied part of the easternend of the Jezreel plain in Issachar's territory. Gilboa lay opposite it to the south and wasreally the name of a mountain. This was the same area where Gideon had routed theMidianites (Judg. 7)."The wording of this introduction (28:4f.) is notable, for it is stronglyreminiscent of two other fateful confrontations between Saul and thePhilistines, the first at Michmash/Gilgal (13:5f.), the second at Socoh/Elah(17:1f., 11)." 297Saul again feared the Philistines (v. 5). If this enemy succeeded, they would cut Israel inhalf geographically. God gave Saul no guidance in response to his prayers. Since Saulhad refused to listen to God in the past (chs. 13; 15), God now refused to listen to him (cf.v. 18). He gave the king no revelation about how to proceed. Normally when peoplerefuse to pay attention to the word of God, it becomes increasingly difficult for them tohear the word of God (cf. Jer. 7:13-16).Verse 6 says that God did not answer Saul by Urim. Abiathar, the priest, had taken theUrim and Thummim and joined David some time before this event (22:20;23:6-12). SoSaul did not have access to it now. Perhaps this verse means that even when Saul did296 Gordon, I & II Samuel . . ., p. 192.297 Gunn, The Fate . . ., p. 108.
2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 107have access to it God did not answer him. One writer suggested that Saul may have madea new Urim and Thummim, and that one is in view here. 298Saul then proceeded to try to obtain information about the future, specifically about theimminent encounter with the Philistines, from another supernatural source. Publicly Saulwas against these diviners (v. 3), but privately he now sought one out. This is hypocrisy.". . . Saul's attempts at inquiry were of so unworthy a nature that it wouldbe an abuse of language to speak of him as really 'inquiring ofJehovah.'" 299Endor stood on the north slope of the hill of Moreh, on the other side from that on whichthe Philistines camped.Saul's conversation with the medium 28:8-14Evidently Saul knew the woman wouldnot cooperate with him if she knew whohe was, so he disguised himself (v. 8). Hefurther hid his hypocrisy by visiting herunder cover of darkness. Saul sank so lowas to swear to the woman in the Lord'sname that he would not punish her forbreaking the Lord's Law (v. 10). This toowas hypocrisy. He wanted to give a publicimpression of upholding the Mosaic Law,but really he broke it by seeking her out.Saul asked her to bring Samuel up fromSheol, the place of departed spirits.THE BATTLE OFMT. GILBOAI think it is most likely that God allowedSamuel, or a vision or apparition ofSamuel, to appear, as the text states (vv.12, 15, 16), with another prophecy fromthe Lord (vv. 16-19). The woman also sawwho Saul really was, and this surpriseterrified her because she discovered thather life was in danger. Some interpretershave concluded that a demon whoAphekJezreel ValleyHill ofMorehShunem *Jezreel *Jabeshgilead** EndorBethshan*Mt.Gilboaimpersonated Samuel came up. However what this being proceeded to say in verses 16-19 argues against this. It was a message from God. Others have suggested that the womantricked Saul into thinking that the person he saw was Samuel, but he was not. Howeverher own surprise argues against this view (v. 12). 300 Evidently she expected contact with298 Wood, Israel's United . . ., p. 167299 John W. Haley, An Examination of the Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible, pp. 359-60.300 See ibid., pp. 194-95; Archer, Encyclopedia of . . ., pp. 180-81.
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1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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