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Chapter 28 reminds us of the death of Samuel in 1006 B.C. About this time the Philistines were preparing to make war against the Israelites. David was invited to join them. They set up camp at Shu-nem on the boarder between Ishchar and Zebulun, 5 miles south of Mt. Tabor. The armies of Israel camped at Gilboa, north of Mt. Gilboa. The size of the Philistine Army struck fear in the hearts of the Israeli. Saul asked God what he should do but God would not answer. Saul had banded all mediums and wizards from Israel, but now he thought he had need for one. His servants found one at Endor. She appears to have escaped Saul's edict to rid Israel of this evil form.
Later it says that she is a woman with a "familiar or similar spirit" to that of Saul, so she to was infested by Satan. Saul dishonored God and did what he knew in his heart was evil. He goes to council with the "lady" at night, disguised as a common person. At first, the woman denies her profession. She accuses them of trying to get her killed, but Saul, whom she did not recognize, made a solemn oath never to betray her so she agreed to help them.
She asked them what dead man they wanted to talk to and Saul answered, Samuel. With this the woman knew that it was Saul that she was talking to, but never the less, she conjured up a vision.
She saw a spirit coming up out of the earth. (Some translate "god", this was the language of the heathen. All spiritual things were gods to them.) Now, how did she do this? Samuel had just recently died. Why doesn't the scripture give some explanation of this? John was told in Rev. 2:24 that it is forbidden to know the "depths of Satan". Paul says in Rom. 16:19 that this scripture contains "sinful art". Saul asked her what the "spirit" looked like. She said that he was old and wrapped in a robe. Saul bowed down because he knew that he was in the presence of Samuel. Samuel questioned why he had been "brought back". This is an interesting term used in the Living Bible and the R.S.V. translations. The K.J. and the N.I.V. use "brought up". What had the medium "brought up" or "brought back". The answer, of course, it was Samuel's soul. If Saul had wanted to resurrect Samuel's body he would have gone to Ramah where it was buried. Why did Saul have the soul of Samuel brought back?
What information did Samuel have for David? Some things he already knew:
Some things he didn't know:
How did the news affect Saul? He fell down on his face. (The Hebrew word indicates that he was "unfit" and "unable" to bare the load of the prophecy.
How did this affect the medium? She was afraid that the news had rendered Saul unable to travel and that he might even die, which would mean that she couldn't get him out of her house, which would be very inconvenient in light of her occupation.
What did she do? She tried to get him to eat something so that he might regain his strength. Notice what she prepared. The proverbial "fatted calf". This was a well-fed, well-trained calf used in the treading out of corn. These animals were allowed to eat all that they wanted in the process of doing their work. Their value indicates the nature of her gift. The best she had along with fresh baked un-leavened bread.
Did Saul eat? No. She became frantic. She got some of Saul's servants and finally, between them, they got him to eat something. Josephus, in his account, phrases the efforts of the woman on Saul's behalf. He also phrases Saul for having the strength to return to the army and involving himself in a battle that he knew was going to take his life. Remember, Josephus was a heathen, seeing only as the world sees. Matthew Henry, a Christian, saw two evil spirits conversing. He believed that because of the hardness of Saul's heart, he believed, like Pharaoh, that he could beat the will and sovereignty of God.
Notice, Saul came by night and left before sunup the next day. Evil deeds are best perpetrated under the cover of darkness.
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