Saul consults the witch of Endor
1 In those days, the Philis tines mustered their forces to fight against Israel, and Achish told David, “I want you to know that you and your men must join me to fight this battle.”
2 David answered, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “I will make you my permanent bodyguard.”
3 Now Samuel had died and when all Israel had mourned for him, they buried him in his own city, Ramah. Meanwhile, Saul had driven those who consult spirits of the dead and fortunetellers out of the land.
4 As the Philistines gathered to gether and encamped in Shunem, Saul also mustered the Israelite forces and encamped in Gilboa.
5 But on seeing the Philistine camp, Saul was afraid and his heart failed him.
6 Saul consulted Yahweh but Yahweh gave no answer whether in dreams or by the Urim or through prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who consults the spirits of the dead, that I may go and consult her.” His servants told him, “There is a medium at Endor.”
8 Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and left with two men. He arrived at night and said to the woman: “Tell my fortune through a ghost and call the spirit I shall name.”
9 But the woman answered him, “Do you not know that Saul has driven medium and fortunetellers out of the land? Why do you set a trap for me to bring about my death?”
10 But Saul swore to her by Yahweh, “As Yahweh lives, you will not be in trouble for this.”
11 Then the woman asked him, “Whom do you want me to call up?” Saul said, “Call up Samuel.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13 The king then told her, “Have no fear. What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see him rising from the ground. He is a god.”
14 Saul asked her, “What does he look like?” She replied, “The one rising is an old man clothed in a mantle.” Saul knew that it was Samuel. He knelt and bowed face to the ground in homage.
15 Samuel spoke to Saul, “Why did you disturb me by summoning me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are waging war against me and God has abandoned me. He no longer answers me either through prophets or in dreams. Because of this I have called you to tell me what I should do.”
16 Samuel said, “Why do you ask me, if Yahweh has abandoned you and turned against you?
17 Yahweh has done to you what he foretold through me. He has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor, David.
18 Remem ber that you disobeyed Yahweh by not executing his fierce anger against Amalek; that is why Yahweh has done this to you today.
19 Now Yahweh will deliver Israel, together with you, into the hands of the Philis tines. By tomorrow, you and your sons shall be with me when Yahweh delivers the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, terrified by what Samuel said. He had no strength left because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
21 The woman drew close to Saul and, seeing how frightened he was, said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed you and risked her life doing what you have asked her to do.
22 Now it is your turn to listen to me. Let me give you something to eat so you may have strength when you go on your way.”
23 Saul refused and said, “I will not eat.” But on the insistence of his servants and the woman, he agreed, rose from the ground and sat on the bed.
24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house which she immediately butchered. She also took some flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread,
25 and set it before Saul and his servants. They then ate
and left that night.
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Comments 1 Samuel, Chapter 28
• 28.1 Nowhere else does Saul appear so human and so close to us. While David, trusting in Yahweh and loved by all, courts danger with the utmost serenity, Saul carries all by himself the burden of his anxiety. His opponent, Samuel, with whom he could at least discuss and quarrel is no longer there. God himself does not speak, and the man remains alone, facing hostile circumstances, tortured by his own doubts and anxieties.
Saul wanted to wrest from God a favorable response. He gets a death sentence from Samuel, and then leaves peacefully since what weighed on him was not so much the fear of death as the solitude which was his lot while he was in power. The man who “surpassed everyone in height from the shoulders upwards” has become like all the rest and depends on the assistance of a poor woman, a sinner according to God’s law, but someone full of understanding.