| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
1 Samuel
Chapter Twenty-eight
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 28
The
Philistines gathering together
to fight with Israel
Saul trembled at it
not
being able to get any answer from the Lord about it in any way whatever
1 Samuel 28:1; upon
which he applies to a woman that had a familiar spirit to bring him up Samuel
which she did
1 Samuel 28:7; and
what passed between Saul and Samuel
or at least the apparition in his form
is
recorded
1 Samuel 28:15;
which so struck him
as to make him strengthless
and so melancholy
that he
refused to eat until persuaded
or rather compelled
by the woman and his
servants
1 Samuel 28:20.
1 Samuel 28:1 Now it happened
in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war
to
fight with Israel. And Achish said to David
“You assuredly know that you will
go out with me to battle
you and your men.”
YLT
1And it cometh to pass in
those days
that the Philistines gather their camps for the war
to fight
against Israel
and Achish saith unto David
`Thou dost certainly know that
with me thou dost go out into the camp
thou and thy men.'
And it came to pass in those days
.... That David was in
the country of the Philistines:
that the Philistines gathered their armies together: out of their
five principalities or lordships:
for warfare to fight with Israel; with whom they were
continually at war
and though sometimes there was a cessation of arms
yet
never any settled peace; and the Philistines took every opportunity and
advantage against them
as they now did; when David was among them
and so had
nothing to fear from him
but rather expected his assistance; and Samuel was
dead
and Saul in a frenzy:
and Achish said unto David: who seems to have been
at the head of the combined armies of the Philistines:
know thou assuredly that thou shall go with me to battle
thou and
thy men; against Israel; which was a trying thing to David
and whereby
he was like to be drawn into a dilemma; either to fight against his country
which he could not do conscientiously; or be guilty of ingratitude to Achish
and incur his displeasure
and be liable to be turned out of his country
or
treated in a worse manner
even he and his men
to be seized on and cut to
pieces by the forces of the Philistines
should he refuse.
1 Samuel 28:2 2 So David said to Achish
“Surely you know what your servant can do.”
And Achish said to David
“Therefore I will make you one of my
chief guardians forever.”
YLT
2And David saith unto
Achish
`Therefore -- thou dost know that which thy servant dost do.' And
Achish saith unto David
`Therefore -- keeper of my head I do appoint thee all
the days.'
And David said to Achish
surely thou shalt know what thy servant
can do
.... By which he would have Achish understand
and so he did
that he would exert himself in favour of the Philistines
and against Israel
and do great and brave things
of which Achish would be
made sensible
through
his heroic courage and valour; though he meant rather what he could and should
do for Israel against the Philistines
if he had an opportunity: but it seems
best of all to consider David as quite undetermined
and at a loss what to do
hoping that God in his providence would extricate him out of this difficulty
and direct him what he should do
which then Achish would know; and accordingly
he was delivered out of it:
and Achish said to David: putting confidence in
him on account of his answer
and believing he was hearty in engaging in the
war with the Philistines against Israel:
therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever; the captain
of his bodyguard
which post he should hold for life; or he proposed to put him
into this post
that he might be with him
near his person
and under his eye
that he might observe how he behaved himself; which may show some suspicion of
him.
1 Samuel 28:3 3 Now Samuel had died
and
all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah
in his own city. And
Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.
YLT
3And Samuel hath died
and
all Israel mourn for him
and bury him in Ramah
even in his city
and Saul
hath turned aside those having familiar spirits
and the wizards
out of the land.
Now Samuel was dead
.... Had been so for some
time; which is mentioned before
1 Samuel 25:1; and
here repeated
partly to observe the reason of the Philistines renewing the
war
and partly to account for the conduct of Saul
in seeking to a witch to
raise Samuel
and for the sake of that story:
and all Israel lamented him; as they had great reason
to do; See Gill on 1 Samuel 25:1; and
buried him in Ramah
even his own city; there being two Ramahs
as Kimchi
observes
it is added
"in his own city"
to show that he was buried
in that Ramah which was his native place
and where his constant residence was;
though
as he says
it may mean that he was buried within the city
and not
without it; but the Targum gives a different sense
"and they buried him in
Ramah
and mourned for him every man in his city:"
and Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits
and the
wizards
out of the land: out of the land of Israel; had by an edict
banished them
or had given orders that neither witches nor wizards should
abide in the land; but should be taken up
and prosecuted according to the law
of God; which he had done either at the instigation of Samuel; or
as some
think
from a conceit that the evil spirit he had been troubled with was owing
to them; or to make some appearance of a zeal for religion
and the honour and glory
of God: this is observed to show the inconstancy of Saul
and his folly in
applying after this to a person of such a character
and to account for the
fears of the woman when applied to
and afterwards when she was engaged
when
she found it was by Saul; see 1 Samuel 28:7.
1 Samuel 28:4 4 Then the Philistines
gathered together
and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel
together
and they encamped at Gilboa.
YLT
4And the Philistines are
gathered
and come in
and encamp in Shunem
and Saul gathereth all Israel
and
they encamp in Gilboa
And the Philistines gathered themselves together
.... From
different parts
and formed a considerable army:
and came and pitched in Shunem; a city
in the borders
of the tribe of Issachar
of which See Gill on Joshua 19:18
and Saul gathered all Israel together
and they pitched in Gilboa; a range of
mountains
near Jezreel
and which JeromF2De loc. Heb fol. 92. D.
calls the mountains of the Philistines
six miles from Scythopolis
where there
is a large village called Gelbus.
1 Samuel 28:5 5 When Saul saw the army of
the Philistines
he was afraid
and his heart trembled greatly.
YLT
5and Saul seeth the camp of
the Philistines
and feareth
and his heart trembleth greatly
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines
.... From the
mountains of Gilboa
where he had pitched his camp:
he was afraid
and his heart greatly trembled; on sight of
the numbers of them
and thinking perhaps of the death of Samuel
and of the
loss of David; who was now among the Philistines
and might possibly fight
against him
and for the Philistines
of which he might be informed; however
he was not with him
and his conscience might accuse him of various sins he had
been guilty of
for which he might fear the Lord would now reckon with him.
1 Samuel 28:6 6 And when Saul inquired of
the Lord
the Lord
did not answer him
either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.
YLT
6and Saul asketh at Jehovah
and Jehovah hath not answered him
either by dreams
or by Urim
or by
prophets.
And when Saul inquired of the Lord
.... And this being not
done truly and heartily
nor continued in
it was as if he had not inquired
and especially after he had inquired of one that had a familiar spirit
as
Kimchi observes; for so it is said
1 Chronicles 10:14
the Lord answered him not
neither by dreams; which he
dreamed himself
from whence he could not conclude anything relating to the
will of God; so the Targum
"the Lord did not receive his prayer even by
dreams;'or by dreamers
diviners
who pretended to give answers by dreams:
nor by Urim; there being no priest to consult in this way
Abiathar having
fled with the ephod
in which were the Urim and Thummim
to David
1 Samuel 23:9;
though some think that he sent to Abiathar
who was with David
to inquire for
him; and others that he made another ephod with Urim
and appointed another
priest to consult by them; neither of which are probable:
nor by prophets; of which there was a school not far from
him
even at Naioth in Ramah
of which Samuel in his lifetime was president;
but neither by the one nor the other could Saul get an answer from God
who for
his sins had departed from him.
1 Samuel 28:7 7 Then Saul said to his
servants
“Find me a woman who is a medium
that I may go to her and inquire of
her.” And his servants said to him
“In fact
there is a woman who is a
medium at En Dor.”
YLT
7And Saul saith to his
servants
`Seek for me a woman possessing a familiar spirit
and I go unto her
and inquire of her;' and his servants say unto him
`Lo
a woman possessing a
familiar spirit in En-dor.'
Then said Saul unto his servants
.... That waited upon
him
to some of them
to such as he could place most confidence in to keep a
secret; perhaps only the two after mentioned:
seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit
that I may go to her
and inquire of her; that was mistress of the bottle
a ventriloquist
that spoke out
of her belly
or seemed to do; who had the spirit of Python or divination
conversed with the devil
and by his assistance pretended to bring up a dead
person
and thereby foretell things to come; See Gill on Deuteronomy 18:11;
a woman is pitched upon
because such were most addicted to those wicked arts
and being of the weaker sex
were more easily imposed upon by Satan; and Saul
showed himself to be as weak
to seek after such persons; but being left of
God
he acted the part of a mad man
as well as of a bad man:
and his servants said to him
behold
there is a woman that
hath a familiar spirit at Endor; a city in the tribe of Manasseh
of which
see Joshua 17:11; it
was not far from Gilboa. Mr. Maundrell speaksF3Journey from Aleppo
p. 115. of it as near Nain
at the foot of Mount Hermon; and turning
a little
southward
he says
you have in view the high mountains of Gilboa. It is a
tradition of the JewsF4Pirke Eliezer
c. 33. foi. 35. 2. Shalshalet
Hakabala
fol. 8. 1. Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 77. B. that this woman
was the mother of Abner
the wife of Zephaniah; some say her name was
Zephaniah; but
as Abarbinel observes
if so she would have known Saul
and
also Saul would have known her
and what she was
if
as they say
she was
spared because of her relation to him; nor needed he to have inquired of his
servants for such a woman.
1 Samuel 28:8 8 So Saul disguised himself
and put on other clothes
and he went
and two men with him; and they came to
the woman by night. And he said
“Please conduct a séance for me
and bring up
for me the one I shall name to you.”
YLT
8And Saul disguiseth himself
and putteth on other garments
and goeth
he and two of the men with him
and
they come in unto the woman by night
and he saith
`Divine
I pray thee
to me
by the familiar spirit
and cause to come up to me him whom I say unto thee.'
And Saul disguised himself
and put on other raiment
.... Stripped
himself of his royal robes
or military apparel
as supreme commander
and
clothed himself in the habit of a peasant or a common soldier; and this not
only that he might not be known by the woman
but that he might pass from his
army incognito
and it might not be known that he was gone
and especially
whither he was gone:
and he went
and two men with him: these
according to the
tradition of the JewsF5Vajikra Rabba
sect. 26. fol. 167. 1.
Shalshalet ib.
were Abner and Amasa; but it is not probable that Saul should
leave his army destitute of their general at such a time as this:
and they came to the woman by night; not only that they might
not be seen
but because it was a work of darkness they were going about
and
it was only in the night season that such persons exercised their black art;
though the JewsF6Tanchuma apud Jarchiura in loc. say it was day
only because of their distress it was like tonight with them; but the literal
sense is best:
and he said
I pray thee divine unto me by the familiar spirit; exercise her
art of divination
by the assistance of the familiar spirit she conversed with:
and bring me up whom I shall name unto thee: that is
from
the dead; for necromancy was the kind of divination she professed; and such
persons pretended to have a power to bring up a deceased person
and consult
with him about secret and future things.
1 Samuel 28:9 9 Then the woman said to
him
“Look
you know what Saul has done
how he has cut off the mediums and the
spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life
to cause me
to die?”
YLT
9And the woman saith unto
him
`Lo
thou hast known that which Saul hath done
that he hath cut off those
having familiar spirits
and the wizards
out of the land; and why art thou
laying a snare for my soul -- to put me to death?'
And the woman said unto him
.... Not knowing who he
was:
behold
thou knowest what Saul hath done; for by his
speech and habit she perceived he was an Israelite
and so must be acquainted
with what had passed in the nation
especially of a public nature
and which
made a great noise
as doubtless this
lid:
how he both cut off those that have familiar spirits
and the
wizards
out of the land; as many of them as he had knowledge of
or
information about; and by this it appears that he did not merely expel them his
dominions
but he put them to death
according to the law of God
Exodus 22:18; so
the putting them out of the land
1 Samuel 28:3
was putting
them to death
and the woman's after reasoning confirms this: one should think
for Saul to be told this to his face must fill him with shame and confusion
and his conscience must accuse him of sin and folly to make this attempt; and
he must stand self-convicted and self-condemned; and it was enough to have
deterred him from pursuing his scheme
had not his heart been strangely
hardened:
wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life
to cause me to die? she suspected
that Saul and his men were persons that came to entrap her; that when they had
prevailed upon her to exercise her art
would turn informers against her
to
the taking away of her life
it being death to practise it.
1 Samuel 28:10 10 And Saul swore to her by
the Lord
saying
“As the Lord
lives
no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
YLT
10And Saul sweareth to her by
Jehovah
saying
`Jehovah liveth
punishment doth not meet thee for this
thing.'
And Saul sware to her by the Lord
.... By the Word of the
Lord
as the Targum: it is much that Saul
being about such a work of darkness
and wickedness
could take the name of the Lord into his mouth
and swear by
him in such a solemn manner; which must surely put him in mind of his
omniscience
from whom this wicked action could not be hid:
saying
as the Lord liveth
there shall no punishment
happen to thee for this thing; the tenor of the oath was
and so the woman
understood it
that he would never make any discovery of what she did
and so
she would be sat from punishment; though as he was the supreme governor
and a
very arbitrary prince
had it been discovered
he could have screened her from
justice
though contrary to the law of God; however
he could not secure her
from eternal punishment.
1 Samuel 28:11 11 Then the woman said
“Whom
shall I bring up for you?” And he said
“Bring up Samuel for me.”
YLT
11And the woman saith
`Whom
do I bring up to thee?' and he saith
`Samuel -- bring up to me.'
Then said the woman
whom shall I bring up unto thee?.... For such
persons
according to their profession
pretended they were able to bring up
any of the dead
that he who inquired of them should name:
and he said
bring me up Samuel; the prophet Samuel he
meant
and no doubt the woman so understood him
whose name was well known; he
had been an old acquaintance and friend of Saul's
his counsellor and adviser
in many things and though he greatly neglected him in the latter part of his
life
was very desirous of an interview with him now dead
that he might be
advised by him how to get out of the straits and difficulties in which he was
involved; but it argued extreme folly and madness in him to imagine
that the
spirit of this great and good man was at the beck of a witch
and he to be
called out of the state of the dead by her enchantments; or that God would
permit him to appear to him
and by him give an answer
when he would not
answer him by living prophets
nor any other way.
1 Samuel 28:12 12 When the woman saw Samuel
she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul
saying
“Why have
you deceived me? For you are Saul!”
YLT
12And the woman seeth Samuel
and crieth with a loud voice
and the woman speaketh unto Saul
saying
`Why
hast thou deceived me -- and thou Saul?'
And when the woman saw Samuel
.... The appearance of
him whom she took for Samuel; no mention is made of the methods she used to
raise him
to check the curiosity of such as might be desirous to know them
and to prevent the imitation of them; though some think that Samuel
or the
apparition
was seen before she made use of any
which surprised her; but this
seems not so probable
and is only observed for the sake of an hypothesis;
though it must be owned the word "when" is not in the text:
she cried with a loud voice; not so much frightened
at what she saw
and the manner of his appearing
and as thinking the
resurrection of the dead was come
as say the JewsF2Pirke Eliezer
c. 33.
as what she feared would be the consequence to her
even death by the
hand of Saul; for though he had sworn no punishment should come upon her
she
might begin to fear she was not safe
perceiving who he was:
and the woman spake to Saul
saying
why hast thou deceived me?
for thou art Saul: how she knew this is a question; it could not be by the
appearance of Samuel
for it was Samuel she was to bring up; unless with Ben
Gersom it can be thought that she understood him of another man
whose name was
Samuel
and not Samuel the prophet; and so when she saw him
concluded he was
Saul
because of the intimacy between them in his lifetime; but this is not
probable
nor does it appear that she as yet knew who it was
but rather she
was told by her familiar spirit
or by the apparition
so JosephusF3Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 14. sect. 2.
that it was Saul that inquired of her; or she guessed
at it by some gesture of the apparition to Saul
by way of homage and honour;
and so Abarbinel thinks that the clause in 1 Samuel 28:14
respects not Saul's bowing to Samuel
but Samuel bowing to Saul; and so by this
means the woman knew who he was.
1 Samuel 28:13 13 And the king said to her
“Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul
“I saw a
spirit[a] ascending
out of the earth.”
YLT
13And the king saith to her
`Do not fear; for what hast thou seen?' and the woman saith unto Saul
`Gods I
have seen coming up out of the earth.'
And the king said unto her
be not afraid
.... Meaning
not of the apparition
but of him; since he had sworn no punishment should come
upon her
and he should inviolably observe his oath: for what sawest thou? for
as yet Saul himself saw not anything
the woman being between him and the
apparition; or she might be in another room with her familiar spirit performing
the operations when Samuel appeared:
and the woman said unto Saul
I saw gods ascending out of the
earth; a great personage
one of a majestic form
like the gods
or
judges and civil magistrates
sometimes so called
as Kimchi and R. Isaiah
rightly interpret it; and so the Targum
"I saw an angel of the Lord;'a
person that looked like one; for not many came up with him
and particularly
Moses
as say some Jewish writersF4T. Bab. Chagigah
fol. 4. 8.
Pirke Eliezer
c. 33. .
1 Samuel 28:14 14 So he said to her
“What is
his form?” And she said
“An old man is coming up
and he is covered
with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel
and he stooped
with his face to the ground and bowed down.
YLT
14And he saith to her
`What
[is] his form?' and she saith
`An aged man is coming up
and he [is] covered
with an upper robe;' and Saul knoweth that he [is] Samuel
and boweth -- face
to thee earth -- and doth obeisance.
And he said unto her
what form is he of?.... Of what
stature is he? or rather of what age does he seem to be? and what clothes has
he on? as appears from the answer:
and she said
an old man cometh up
and he is covered with a
mantle; such as either priests or judges wore
and Samuel did in his
lifetime:
and Saul perceived that it was Samuel; by the
description she gave of him
by his age and apparel; for as yet it is not
certain that he himself saw him
though it should seem as if he did by what
follows: it is in the original
"that it was Samuel himself"; which
seems to make for those who think the real Samuel appeared
and no doubt Saul
thought it was really he himself:
and he stooped with his face to the ground
and bowed
himself: either in reverence to Samuel
and from whom he hoped relief
and therefore was all obeisance; or he put himself in this posture
that he
might listen and hear what should be said; it being a general notion that such
spirits gave their responses whispering and muttering
Isaiah 8:19; though
Abarbinel
as before observed
is of opinion
that this is to be understood of
Samuel
that he bowed to Saul in reverence of him as a king; which does not so
well agree with the connection of the words. Some have thought that it was the
true Samuel
or the soul of Samuel
that appeared; so JosephusF5Ut
supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 14. sect. 2.)
and many other writers; but to this
may be objected
that that would not have ascended out of the earth
but come
down from heaven; and that it cannot reasonably be supposed that it was in the
power of the witch
by the assistance of the devil
to fetch it from heaven;
nor be thought that God would send it from thence on such an errand
to give
Saul an answer
when he would not answer him by any prophet on earth
nor in
any other way; and especially it seems quite incredible that he should send it
at the motion of a witch
and through her enchantments
who
according to a law
of his
ought not to live; whereas nothing could have given greater countenance
to such a wicked profession than this: nor would the true Samuel have admitted
such worship and homage to be paid him
as is expressed in this last clause
which angelic spirits have refused
Revelation 19:10;
though perhaps no more than civil respect is intended: but rather this was a
diabolical spectre
or apparition
or the devil
that appeared in the form and
shape of Samuel
and mimicked him; and was one of those deceiving spirits
Porphyry speaksF6De Abstinentia
l. 2. apud Grotium in loc. of
that
appear in various shapes and forms
and pretend to be gods or demons
or the
souls of the deceased. SomeF7See Webster's Displaying of supposed
Witchcraft
&c. ch. 8. p. 166
&c. think all this was the cunning and
imposture of the woman alone
or that she was assisted with a confederate
who
acted the part of Samuel; but this is not probable.
1 Samuel 28:15 15 Now Samuel said to Saul
“Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered
“I am deeply
distressed; for the Philistines make war against me
and God has departed from
me and does not answer me anymore
neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore
I have called you
that you may reveal to me what I should do.”
YLT
15And Samuel saith unto Saul
`Why hast thou troubled me
to bring me up?' And Saul saith
`I have great
distress
and the Philistines are fighting against me
God hath turned aside
from me
and hath not answered me any more
either by the hand of the prophets
or by dreams; and I call for thee to let me know what I do.'
And Samuel said to Saul
why hast thou disquieted me to bring me
up?.... This makes it a clear case that this was not the true
Samuel; his soul was at rest in Abraham's bosom
in the state of bliss and
happiness in heaven
and it was not in the power of men and devils to disquiet
it; nor would he have talked of his being brought up
but rather of his coming
down
had it been really he; much less would he have acknowledged that he was
brought up by Saul
by means of a witch
and through the help of the devil:
and Saul answered
I am sore distressed; in mind
being in great straits and difficulties
pressed hard upon by men
and forsaken
of God
as follows:
for the Philistines make war against me; so they had
many times
and he had been victorious
and had no reason to be so much
distressed
if that was all: but he adds:
and God is departed from me: and therefore he feared
he should be left to fall into their hands; and that he had forsaken him he
concluded from hence
and answereth me no more
neither by prophets
nor by dreams: See Gill on 1 Samuel 28:6; he
makes no mention of Urim
either because they were not with him to inquire by
being carried away by Abiathar when he fled to David
1 Samuel 23:9; or
as the Jews sayF8T. Bab. Beracot
fol. 12. 2.
through shame
he
said nothing of the Urim before Samuel
as he took this appearance to be
because he had slain the priests at Nob
and because of this shame
they say
his sin was forgiven him:
therefore have I called thee
that thou mayest make known unto me
what I shall do; which was downright madness and folly to imagine
that since God
had forsaken him
and would give him no answer
that a prophet of his should
take his part; or when he could get no answer from a prophet of God on earth
that he could expect an agreeable one from one fetched down from heaven: one would
be tempted to think that he himself believed it was the devil he was talking
to
and whom he had called for under the name of Samuel
and expected to see;
for from whom else could he expect advice
when he was forsaken of God
and his
prophets?
1 Samuel 28:16 16 Then Samuel said: “So why
do you ask me
seeing the Lord has departed from you and
has become your enemy?
YLT
16And Samuel saith
`And why
dost thou ask me
and Jehovah hath turned aside from thee
and is thine enemy?
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 thine enemy; to make his case appear
still more desperate; for his whole view is to lead him to despair
which shows
what sort of spirit he was: though some understand this as spoken of David
and
read the words
and "he is with thine enemy"F9ויהי ערך "et est cum inimico
tuo"
Pagninus
Vatablus; so V. L. ; is on his side
and favours his
cause; so the Targum
"and he is for the help of a man
whose enmity thou
sharest in;'or who is at enmity with thee
meaning David; but now the true Samuel
would never have said this
or suggested it
that David was an enemy to Saul
for he was not.
1 Samuel 28:17 17 And the Lord has done for
Himself[b] as He
spoke by me. For the Lord
has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor
David.
YLT
17And Jehovah doth for
Himself as He hath spoken by my hand
and Jehovah rendeth the kingdom out of
thy hand
and giveth it to thy neighbour -- to David.
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 explanation
interpreting the words of
David; which he might safely venture to do
seeing such a train of
circumstances had occurred since the delivery of these words
which plainly
made it appear he was intended.
1 Samuel 28:18 18 Because you did not obey
the voice of the Lord
nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek
therefore the Lord has done this
thing to you this day.
YLT
18Because thou hast not
hearkened to the voice of Jehovah
nor didst the fierceness of His anger on
Amalek -- therefore this thing hath Jehovah done to thee this day;
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 true Samuel
he would have told him of some other
sins of his
provoking to the Lord; as his slaughter of the priests at Nob
his
cruel persecution of David
and especially of his asking counsel of one that
had a familiar spirit at this time
of which not a word is said
and yet was
the very transgression for which Saul died
1 Chronicles 10:13.
1 Samuel 28:19 19 Moreover the Lord will also
deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and
your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the
army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
YLT
19yea
Jehovah giveth also
Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines
and tomorrow thou and thy
sons [are] with me; also the camp of Israel doth Jehovah give into the hand of
the Philistines.'
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 to repentance for his sins
and humiliation
before God on account of them
and given him hope on this that God would appear
for him
and work deliverance
as he had done; but instead of this tells him
that he and his army would be delivered into the hands of the Philistines
which he might make a shrewd guess at
and venture to say from the
circumstances of things
and the situation Saul and his people were in; the
armies of the Philistines were very numerous
and those of Israel comparatively
weak; Saul was quite dispirited
and God had forsaken him:
and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me; which if
understood in what sense it may
seems to be a lie of the devil
and at best an
ambiguous expression
such as he has been wont to give in the Heathen oracles;
if he meant this of himself as an evil spirit
it could not be true of Saul and
all his sons
that they should be with him in hell
especially of Jonathan who
appears throughout the whole of his life to have been a good man; if he would
have it understood of him as representing Samuel
and of their being with him
in heaven
it must be a great stretch of charity to believe it true of Saul
so
wicked a man
and who died in the act of suicide; though the JewsF11T.
Bab. Beracot
fol. 12. 2.
some of them
understand it in this sense
that his
sins were pardoned
and he was saved; and if it is taken in the sense of being
in the state of the dead
and in the earth
from whence he is said to ascend
and where the body of Samuel was
which seems to be the best sense that is put
upon the phrase
"with me"; yet this was not true
if he meant it of
all the sons of Saul
as the expression seems to suggest; for there were
Ishbosheth
and his two sons by Rizpah
which survived him; nor was it true of
Saul and his sons that they were cut off
and that they died the next day; for
the battle was not fought till several days after this
see 1 Samuel 28:23; if
it should be said
that "tomorrow" signifies some future time
and
not strictly the next day
this shows the ambiguity of the expression used
and
the insignificance of it to the present purpose; for who knew not that Saul and
his sons would die some time or another?
the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of
the Philistines; which is only a repetition of what is said in the first clause.
1 Samuel 28:20 20 Immediately Saul fell full
length on the ground
and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel.
And there was no strength in him
for he had eaten no food all day or all
night.
YLT
20And Saul hasteth and
falleth -- the fulness of his stature -- to the earth
and feareth greatly
because of the words of Samuel; also power was not in him
for he had not eaten
bread all the day
and all the night.
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 fears
but not eating any
food
occasioned his weakness
and that through want of an appetite
by reason
of the great concern of his mind in his present troubles.
1 Samuel 28:21 21 And the woman came to Saul
and saw that he was severely troubled
and said to him
“Look
your maidservant
has obeyed your voice
and I have put my life in my hands and heeded the words
which you spoke to me.
YLT
21And the woman cometh in
unto Saul
and seeth that he hath been greatly troubled
and saith unto him
`Lo
thy maid-servant hath hearkened to thy voice
and I put my soul in my
hand
and I obey thy words which thou hast spoken unto me;
And the woman came unto Saul
.... Having left him and
the apparition in a room by themselves to converse together
and perhaps on
hearing him fall to the ground came in:
and saw that he was sore troubled: by his lying on the
ground
and the agonies he seemed to be in
and the uneasiness that sat upon
his countenance:
and said unto him
behold
thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice; in divining
by her familiar spirit for him
and in bringing up Samuel to him
as he
desired:
and I have put my life in my hand; exposed it to the utmost
danger
since a person of her profession
and token in the exercise of it
was
punishable with death; and especially she was in the greater danger
as it was
Saul himself
who had by an edict expelled all such persons from his dominions
who now employed her
as she perceived:
and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me: to the oath
he had taken
that no hurt should come to her
which she confided in
and
relied upon
and to what he bid her do
according to her art of divination.
1 Samuel 28:22 22 Now therefore
please
heed also the voice of your maidservant
and let me set a piece of bread before
you; and eat
that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
YLT
22and now
hearken
I pray
thee
also thou
to the voice of thy maid-servant
and I set before thee a
morsel of bread
and eat
and there is in thee power when thou goest in the
way.'
Now therefore
I pray thee
hearken thou also unto the voice of thine
handmaid
.... She argues
that as she had hearkened unto him to the
endangering of her life
it was but reasonable
and might be expected
that he
would hearken to her in a case that would be to the preservation of his life:
and let me set a morsel of bread before thee
and eat
that thou
mayest have strength
when thou goest on thy way; which she might urge
not merely out of respect to the king
but for her own sake
lest should he die
in her house
she might be taken up
not only for a witch
but as being
accessory to the death of the king; and therefore she moves
that he would take
some food for refreshment of nature
that he might be able to depart her house
and go on his way to his army.
1 Samuel 28:23 23 But he refused and said
“I will not eat.” So his servants
together with the woman
urged him; and he
heeded their voice. Then he arose from the ground and sat on the bed.
YLT
23And he refuseth
and saith
`I do not eat;' and his servants urge on him
and also the woman
and he
hearkeneth to their voice
and riseth from the earth
and sitteth on the bed.
But he refused
and said
I will not eat
.... Choosing
rather to die with famine than by the sword of the Philistines; though perhaps
his meaning is
he could not eat
his stomach loathed it
being overwhelmed
with grief and trouble:
but his servants
together with the woman
compelled him; not by force
but by arguments; they reasoned with him
and prevailed upon him to try to eat:
and he hearkened unto their voice; and agreed to eat
if he
could:
so he arose from the earth; on which he lay at his
full length:
and sat upon the bed; or couch
it being now
the custom to recline on couches at caring; though some deny that this custom
obtained so early.
1 Samuel 28:24 24 Now the woman had a fatted
calf in the house
and she hastened to kill it. And she took flour and kneaded it
and baked unleavened bread from it.
YLT
24And the woman hath a calf
of the stall in the house
and she hasteth and slaughtereth it
and taketh
flour
and kneadeth
and baketh it unleavened things
And the woman had a fat calf in the house
.... This was
reckoned a very dainty dish in those countries
and fit for any guests
see Genesis 18:7;
Josephus saysF12Antiqu. l. 6. c. 14. sect. 3. 4.
she vouchsafed to
feed and take care of it in her house
and it was very familiar with her; and
he highly commends the liberality of the woman
and as worthy of imitation:
and she hasted and killed it; and dressed it in some
way or another
and which in those times was done speedily:
and took flour and kneaded it
and did bake unleavened
bread therewith; which was soonest made
she not having time to leaven it.
1 Samuel 28:25 25 So she brought it
before Saul and his servants
and they ate. Then they rose and went away that
night.
YLT
25and bringeth nigh before
Saul
and before his servants
and they eat
and rise
and go on
during that
night.
And she brought it before Saul
and before his servants
and they did eat
.... Of the fatted calf
and unleavened bread
which she set upon
a table before them
in the best manner she could:
then they rose up
and went away that night; that it might
not be seen in what house they had been
and that they might get to the camp
without being discovered by the Philistines
or known by the Israelites that
they had been out.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)